[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISM1z9BSED0][img]https://i.imgur.com/5B3hkEZ.png[/img][/url]

[sub][@Izurich][@Crusader Lord][/sub]

Fritzi was not the sort of person who enjoyed sudden changes to her plans. At least, not when it was her agents insisting on the changes themselves. When Silmeria announced that she was going after King Cobra, she started to groan. Only for it to turn into a sigh of resignation when Jacqueline seemed to like the idea. 
 
[color=#bd71e8]”I don’t like leaving Leroux and Breacher without backup, but keeping Cobra occupied will preserve more of the police station.”[/color] She chuckled. [color=#bd71e8]”And if they’re okay with it, why not? Seems like agent Wukong is joining you anyway. Just remember the freelancers are coming up the stairs, so watch your aim. I’ll let you know when they reach the fourth floor.”[/color]

It didn’t take too long for Silmeria to reach the top floor of the apartment. They climbed into the center window just as Lilliah landed on the roof above them. They could see the commissioner’s office, or perhaps it was [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf7To6vdg7A]King Cobra’s[/url] office now. It had gone over quite the renovation since the takeover. The commissioner’s paperwork had been shoved into a nearby waste paper bin. In its place was a bottle of aged wine. Though all that remained of it after the quake was a label resting on top of a pile of shattered glass. The only other interesting thing in the room was a tall safe that had yet to be opened. But if the scorch marks around the dial were any indication, someone had been trying to get in. Any wall decorations in the room had since fallen on the floor. It was difficult to know what had been caused by the quake and what had been done by the new residents.

Beyond the desk was the hallway. Several desks had been dragged out of nearby offices and pushed onto their sides. Judging by the direction they had been pushed in, it seemed like they were preparing for an assault from the staircase rather than the commissioner’s office. Not many people try to raid a building from the top floor. Less so when you have a plethora of explosive weaponry and could shoot a helicopter out of the air with ease. 

And there at the other end of the hallway was the Cobra himself. He grinned at the esper before ducking under cover.

[b]”Fire!"[/b]

Plenty of gunned goons leaned out of offices and popped over cover to shoot in Silmeria’s direction. More notable than the 6 or 7 regular gang members were 2 men clad head to toe in balistic armor. One of them held what appeared to be a grenade launcher, while the other was sporting a light mounted machine gun. These clearly weren’t arments they found at the police station. These guys had to be dealing with black market arms to get their hands on military grade weapons like that. 

It wasn’t long before the hallway turned into a steady flow of led bullets. The grenade launcher thug fired a round straight into the apartment hallway. The round didn’t explode, but instead slowly filled the room with tear gas. If Silmeria remained for long, her lungs and throat would burn as she inhaled the concoction. She would be unable to resist coughing, and her eyes would sting if the smoke was allowed to enter them. 

King Cobra was difficult to spot, but it was possible to see his lit cigar disappear inside one of the side offices. It didn’t look like he planned on running away.

Things were a bit more peaceful for Lilliah if she chose to ignore the gunfire below her. There were a few vents, each fitted with a set of whirling fan blades and a cage to prevent birds from falling in. Probably a bit too small for a human to use for entry. There were no entryways on top of the building, but she had spotted a fire escape on the north side of the building. It was made out of wrought iron and needed some TLC, but it did allow access to nearly every floor. It was located towards the front of the building away from the above ground staircase.

[hr]

[sub][@SilverPaw]@TheGMbby[/sub]

[color=#bd71e8]”Breacher, Leroux, I’m sure you heard the transmission. You’re on your own. Securing the jail is vital to things going smoothly, so it’s importent you don’t overextend.”[/color]

[color=peachpuff]”Got it!”[/color]

As soon as Jacqueline called Su’s code name, she was backing up to her position. It wasn’t until the skin face at the other end of the hall cast aside his gun that she felt confident rushing to her position.

The giant with a chain was formidable. Even with her shield, a single shot was enough to send Su reeling back from the impact. But Jacqueline was able to cast her melody in relative peace. It took Su a moment to realize what she was doing, and she used Jacqueline’s longer casting time to follow up with something of her own.

She leveled her pistol with the giant’s legs. He seemed to be prepared for something like this, as he reached ack into the darkness and pulled out a fiberglass riot shield. Probably not enough to stop a high caliber round like Su’s gun fired, but it was irrelevant anyway. What came out of her gun was a pulse of wind, creating little dust loops as it flew trough the air before smashing into the shield. It didn’t inflict any damage, but the concrete steps seemed to grow tendrils that latched onto the shield, locking his arm in place.

[b]”Knew you girls were into that shit!”[/b]

By the time Jacqueline’s projectile went off, there wasn’t much the brute could do to evade. He ducked behind the frail shield, which was just barely enough to stand up to improvised weaponry. But it seemed that luck was on his side.

[url=https://i.imgur.com/LGkxYxK.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/WRCxYqb.png[/img][/url]

A second man, this one taller and leaner, leapt from the shadows before firing several rounds into Su’s sculpture. He had just enough time to pull the brute out of harm’s way, but not before the twisted metal cut into his shoulder. He cried in pain as his crimson was sprayed on an adjacent wall.

[b]”The hell are these people?”[/b]

There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that the new hostile was Rottweiler. While he seemed to be dressed up as a security guard, his mannerisms were on a different level than the thug that stood next to him. His posture was better, his workout regimen was better too. There was no doubt the brute standing next to him had a stronger upper body, but Rottweiler didn’t look like a cartoon character due to skipping leg day for the past 5 years. There was discipline with all of his movements. Even the brief moment he stood there it looked like something that he had been rehearsing until he had the moves down perfectly. 

[b]”Espers.”[/b] Rottweiler moved his radio up to his mouth and mumbled some commands before slinking below ground. [b]”Fall back.”[/b] With a groan, the wounded convict followed after him. 

[color=peachpuff]”I not like the look of this, not one bit.”[/color] Despite what her gut told her, Su walked down the stairs with her shield up. No sense getting jumped on the staircase because some gang member was hiding out. 

The “jail” in the basement of the police station wasn’t any bigger than the other floors. The agents knew it was a single long corridor lined with cells, courtesy of the map they saw earlier. Technically, this wasn’t a jail, but a series of holding cells. Once the felons here were processed, they were dressed in orange jumpsuits in preparation for their move to a real jail cell elsewhere. It didn’t look like most of the inmates had been released. There were a few open cells here and there, but that could have been a result of a slow day at the precinct. Most of the prisoners looked rough. They held onto their bars and howled like animals. Blood had been spilled, a battle was going to take place, and they wanted to see the outcome. It wasn’t hard to imagine they were on their 3rd or 4th conviction. There were a few here and there that appeared to be everyday people. One cell had a business man in it, who seemed to be content to sit at the back of his cell. Another had a young woman inside, who had her hands over her ears. 

The corridor had been turned into an arena. Some lockers had been thrown about to create makeshift barricades. Though the area was surprisingly vacant. Rottweiler had retreated half way down the corridor, with the chain brute trailing a bit further behind him. The only other people present were two other brutes in jumpsuits. One had duct tapped some shivs to his wrists, while another had gotten ahold of a pistol. They both charged as soon as the two agents showed up. The gun brute screamed as they emptied their magazine into Su’s shield, and the shiv brute ran for Jacqueline, leading with both knives. 

[hider=specs]
[center]32 | Female | Gemini | Steel Gaze
Bipartisan | Handgun, Greatshield | Physical | Bullet Window
Dragon Breacher | Kevlar Vest 
Debris | Wind | Locally Sourced
[Storm , Flight ], Push, Pull, Build, Purify, Restrain, Damage

DAMAGE: D | SPEED: E | SENTINEL: C | 500

[Bronze Beam][restrain] = 48

PHYSICAL: D | ARCANE: D | CHAOS: E | 404[/center][/hider]

[hr]

[sub][@FamishedPants][@OwO][@mantou][@ERode][/sub]

Aria managed to protect herself from eating a face full of buckshot by suspending the bullets and redirecting them towards the floor. [b]”Hmph.”[/b] Was their only response before pumping their shot gun again. The empty gun Apollo threw at him harmlessly bounced off one of the guard’s shields, causing it to wobble a bit.

When the two gunman hosed the floor with bullets, Aria was there again to keep the bullets out of her allies flesh. Her shield was a bit small for the job though. While Breacher enjoyed a large shield that she could easily hide behind, Aria’s shield was smaller and more designed with mobility in mind. It was what allowed her to be nimble in close quarters combat, but was less practical to use as cover from a hail of bullets. The pulling effect did direct many projectiles to the center of her shield, but a few bullets ended up grazing her legs. They weren’t enough to slow her down, but she’d feel it for the rest of the mission if it wasn’t treated.

This gave Apollo all the time he needed to find the pistol he lifted off a dead gang member. As he had no allies near his targets to hit, there was nothing stopping his bullets from finding their mark. The pistol was more than enough to shatter the shields they held, but were still stopped by the bullet proof vests they wore. The armored criminals stumbled backward from the blows. Even with bullet proof vests, shots like that hurt.

This was when Viper was going to fire another round of buckshot, but some movement distracted them. It was hard to ignore someone killing people on the floor above you. They spotted the incoming corpse bomb, and adjusted their aim accordingly. They did manage to get a shot off, but by that point, the ice bomb went off. A large ice spike jetted out of the trap Klava had set. While modern bomb helmets could stop projectiles moving at 2000 feet per second, they offered no protection against arcane attacks.

[b]”Gah!”[/b]

They flinched, and their helmet fell to either side. Viper’s head was mostly revealed. Their gas mask couldn’t conceal their bright neon hair. Cyan locks fell on either side of their shoulders as the last fragments of their helmet hit the floor. Judging by their cheek bones. They seemed to be rather thin despite the bulky suit they were wearing. They might have even been a woman, but it was really hard to tell with the suit and mask covering the lower half of their face. Fortunately sex appropriation for hostiles wasn’t too important.

[b]”Fall back!”[/b]

The two goons that were with them backed their way up the stairs, wildly spraying their bullets just to slow the freelancer squad on the first floor. Viper marched up the stairs towards Klava’s position, firing round after round of buckshot at her. 

Viper wasn’t the only person gunning for Klava. The second floor had never been cleared out, and gang members were starting to come out of the offices. One of which was a man dressed like a waiter. He was pushing a catering table and lifted the lid off of a dish as he approached. It became clear he was going to serve her a submachine gun, the bullets at least. He used the cart to steady his aim as he fired down the hall.

There were also more gunmen coming down from the third floor, but they hadn’t come into sight yet.

[color=baddab]”The other agents are clear, Silhouette.”[/color] Binky called in to the lone Gemini agent. [color=baddab]”King Cobra was spotted on the fourth floor. Proceede as you would.”[/color] 

[hr]

Fritzi stepped into the armored vehicle Binky was driving and sat in the passenger’s seat.

[color=baddab]”So you [I]can[/I] show up like a normal person?”[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]”It’s not as fun, but I do it on occasion.”[/color] Fritzi folded one leg over the other. [color=#bd71e8]”So what was so important you couldn’t say so over coms?”[/color] 

[color=baddab]”There’s a big monster coming our way.”[/color]

Fritzi hesitated, then reclined in her seat. [color=#bd71e8]”The ‘Holy Diver’ is coming to Pax Septimus? That should be weeks away.”[/color] 

[color=baddab]”Different one. Smaller, but it’s still a behemoth class.”[/color] Binky looked at Veronica. [color=baddab]”It’s not too late to call off the opperation.”[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]”We’re not calling off the operation.”[/color] Veronica’s face hardened when she looked at Binky. [color=#bd71e8]”If there’s a behemoth coming our way, it will need to be kept busy.”[/color] 
Binky closed her eyes. [color=baddab]”Just us? I’m glad you have faith in me, but 30 seconds is all I’m good for. Forgive me if it sounds rude, but there’s a pretty good reason why you didn’t go in there after them. Even if we could hold up a behemoth-”[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]”We?”[/color] Fritzi slapped Binky’s shoulder. [color=#bd71e8]”Binky, someone has to relay information between the agents. You’re going to keep that thing busy by yourself.”[/color] 

[color=baddab]”What!?”[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]”Besides, 30 seconds is more than enough time for them to finish the mission.”[/color] Fritzi adjusted her mic as she prepared to continue with the operation.

[hr]

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oMNwI4Gyq0][img]https://i.imgur.com/rtlB6LL.png[/img][/url]

[sub][@The World][@Hammerman][/sub]

It was melee. It was SMASH!

Regina’s arrow, shot in haste as the Huntress prepared for close combat, struck the spear-ape’s shoulder, jerking him back a step. It wasn’t an inconsequential blow, but it had stalled him two steps behind his allies, isolating the brawler ape that she went for. Arcane transfigurations shifting her arm into a bear’s, Regina swung for the ape’s stomach with lethal intent, only for the brawler ape to shift his own stance. Bringing his right foot forward, he twisted his hips and launched a strong right hook as well, catching her not in her exposed left side, but rather in the furry wrist of her right hand. Padded by fur and fat, it wasn’t a blow that could seriously injure her, but the exchange had drastically slowed the velocity of the Huntress’s swipe.

That was the difference between a group of freelancers and a unified Ape Gang: one couldn’t coordinate, while another was a society based upon sacrifice and brotherhood.

No longer threatened by disembowelment, the brawler ape caught her arm as it struck into his side, wrapping both his arms around it while stomping on her right foot as well. Her claws bit deep into his fursuit, poisons causing the ape to shudder and spasm, but his grip held tight, and in his shadow, the spear-ape caught up to her. “RETURN TO MONKE!” they hollered together, before the heavy head of the spear, optimized for hunting bears, thrust for the Huntress’s chest with the desire to take out a lung or her heart before she could break out of the grapple or any of her allies could assist.

Not that Marrie was in any mental state to do so. Viscerally, absolutely, totally, completely disgusted by the Queen of Bees and her kinky sub-bees, the Esper of the Hurricane unleashed her magical onslaught, dramatically ramping up her conversion of the mana within the atmosphere before shooting off a ball of hot winds to the ceiling. The core of a condensed storm arced up and released raging winds unto the cultists below, lacerating the mob of sub-bees who immediately rallied to their Queen’s defense. Spread out as it was, the rebounding effects of her spell were largely ineffectual in inflicting damage, but the overall effects were still clear to be seen: the chiseled, bloodied forms of the sub-bees were now visible for all to see, and goddamn, did they put in the work to look good.

Such single-minded focus upon the Church of the Hive, however, meant that Marrie had ignored the Ape Gang completely, and by the time she heard the crack of the whip, it was already too late. A sharp pain bloomed over her wrist, skin parting and veins bursting as a bullwhip struck with supersonic speed, and even her dagger went flying. The whip ape, three meters away, chortled with a victorious grimace, while the longsword-ape had already maneuvered around the disarmed Marrie, closing off her routes of escape. Like a true master of the sword (only also an ape), the longsword-ape brought his sword up high, blade parallel to the ground, before whispering, [b]“It’s…banana.”[/b]

Three slashes flew at her, swift as a flying swallow.

Tetrad’s gambit, one that literally no one saw coming, saw the Gravity Gambler landing behind the initial wave of the Ape Gang instead, her crooked teeth the last thing that the hammer-ape saw before his cranium was dashed against the rusted beams of the warehouse. The war hammer tumbled out of his grasp, floating for another few seconds before crashing into the ground between Tetrad and the others. But while the Esper would’ve loved to find some respite behind more shipping crates, what she didn’t account for was the fact that, despite being bruised and bloodied, the axe-ape and the dual-swords ape were still not broken. Coming in after their brothers did, the weakened but still dangerous ape-bros menaced Tetrad, one on each side of her, both feinting blows in order to try to catch her off-guard and create an opening for the other.

Neither, however, accounted for the disdain of the Queen to who they’ve turned their backs.

[b]“Ingrates! Rapscallions! Neanderthals!”[/b] Stained in the blood of her subs but otherwise unharmed, the Queen kicked the backs of one of the men. [b]“Enough of this! Douse them all in holy water and let the judgment of sun and night descend upon them!”[/b]

Immediately, the Super Soaker cultists formed a firing line, and as one, they blasted. Six streams of yellow fluid shot out in mathematically-calculated arcs. They doused the axe-ape and the dual-blades ape, some of the fluid splattering onto Tetrad as well…but nothing happened. The apes, between the dangerous foe in front of them and the agony of their own wounds, didn’t register it. The Esper even inadvertently tasted some of it. Sweet?

Oh no. It was sweet.

[b]“UNLEASH!”[/b]

The Queen raised her hands to the sky.

[b]“THE!”[/b]

She crossed them, clenching her fists.

[b]“HIVE!!!”[/b]

And with violent force, swung her arms forwards.

From her arms, from her weeping sores, larvae shot out in the hundreds, before rapidly transforming mid-flight into a swarm of bees. Still covered in human pus and blood, they rushed singlemindedly for the apes, covering both of them in an instant. Right before Tetrad’s eyes, the apes that had menaced her were reduced to a frenzied mound of vibrating wings and mutual destruction. The apes stumbled about, swaying like drunkards, and ultimately collapsed within seconds, their flesh having swollen so much that it burst out the seams of their ape-suits. And though many of the bees have died in the process, dozens more hadn’t yet sacrificed their lives for their Hivemother, and buzzed now, forming another swarm to descend upon the honey-scented Tetrad.

Not all magic in the world was blessed. Some of it was cursed as all fuck.

…

In the distance too, [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dDmJzNC1sg]the strumming of bass and an acoustic guitar sounded[/url], gradually increasing in volume. A new challenger was approaching.

[hr]

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4Pzx1NDTtI][img]https://i.imgur.com/OYSa6cT.png[/img][/url]

[sub][@Majoras End][/sub]

Fable didn't even get a chance to finish talking to the girl(?) before ze burst out into tears. ze used one of zir hands to cover zir heart shaped irises.

[color=9b83de]"Mastress! Are you alright?"[/color] The puppet placed a reassuring mitten on the back of Zir head.

[color=1462ba]"Today has been troubling, so troubling!"[/color] The girl(?) stared at a spot on the table. [color=1462ba]"It all started when Elm got outside."[/color] Ze stood up. [color=1462ba]"He's a troublesome mutt. Our front yard is fenced in, but did you know that grass gets wet in the morning? He tracked it all over the house! My parents were beside themselves, but I don't think any of them were as upset as I was."[/color] Mary paced back and forth in front of the table. [color=1462ba]"I got on web cam with Jake later, and despite xe being my friend for months, they forgot that I wear purple when I need to be referred to as 'Zir.' Xe's genderfluid, and I remember xer color codes! They're the same as mine!"[/color] With a huff, Mary Folded Zir arms. [color=1462ba]"Then I went to school, it was the usual, with the other kids whispering just out of earshot. Even the private music instructors who greeted me back home can't help but do it now."[/color] Ze circled around the table to Fable's side. [color=1462ba]"I thought I could sneak out and have a drink at the Great Escape. It just opened, and I'm always on the lookout for new hangouts. But it seems this was a bust too."[/color] 

[color=9b83de]"Or at least, it would have been!"[/color] Denny flung his paws up.

[color=1462ba]"You are a good listener, Fable."[/color] Ze kept zir hands behind their back. [color=1462ba]"You are the single best thing that has happened to me all day, perhaps all week."[/color] Despite the clear positive intent of zir words, zir tone and expression remained grave. Almost like even ze couldn't believe what ze was saying. [color=1462ba]"But I don't know your pronouns yet."[/color] Ze reached a hand for Fable's seat. [color=1462ba]"Perhaps when you arrive in my room, you can tell me what they are?"[/color]