[center][h1][b][color=orange]Vincent Ryder[/color][/b][/h1][/center]
[sub]Interactions: Members of Rear Team[/sub]
[hr]

Bits of concrete and asphalt crunched under Vincent's shoes as he leisurely walked with the rear team, his hands laced behind his head. An itch sprung up on his cheek and he went to scratch it, only to grumble quietly when he remembered he still had his mask on. It was a simple half-mask that he had found weeks ago when his old one became damaged, so it didn't hamper his sight at all. Regardless, he hated wearing the thing simply due to the fact that his face seemed to itch only when he had to wear it. [color=orange][i]And now that's gonna bug me all day,[/i][/color] he thought with a sigh. [color=orange][i]At least I don't have to sneeze. I hate sneezing in these things.[/i][/color]

As he and the rest of his team passed underneath a leaning building, he looked up at the old structure. With his limited memory, it was next to impossible for him to imagine that people had normal lives before the Collapse, but it didn't stop him from trying to figure out what each building was for. [color=orange][i]Well, it's tall. Or, it used to be when it was straight up, I guess. Maybe it was one of those 'high-rise apartments'? Ooh, or maybe everyone had their own gliding machines and they used that building to take off! ...Nah, that's stupid.[/i][/color]

As his thoughts settled down, they once again turned to the one thing he could recall: the name 'Erica.' That was all he could remember of what he assumed was his life before the Collapse and didn't know anything else about it, save for it being a woman's name. That, and the strange, longing ache in his chest that appeared every time he thought of it. [color=orange][i]Must've been one hell of a woman if her name's lodged in my head like this,[/i][/color] he thought with a mix of grim amusement and distant sadness.

Shouting from up ahead drew his attention away from his thoughts. He stopped dead in his tracks as he began to feel the welcome sensation of his heartrate increasing. His muscles tensed and he could feel the adrenaline flow into his bloodstream, sharpening his senses and filling him with an excitement so familiar, it may as well be an old friend. [color=orange]"Finally!"[/color] he shouted, not caring that the Lost had appeared much sooner than they expected. In fact, he was overjoyed. [color=orange]"Time to have some--"[/color]

The sentence was brought to an abrupt end when something slammed into his shoulder. He stumbled, having been caught off guard, and looked up when he regained his balance to see a glowing thrall--[color=orange][i]What was it, again? Oh, yeah, an infernal![/i][/color]--firing crimson bursts of energy in the rear team's direction. He jumped behind a car and sat down with his back against the door, though not before he saw another infernal appear with a shield. [color=orange]"Are you fucking kidding me?!"[/color] he shouted. [color=orange]"First bit of action in days and not only do they have a shield, but a goddamn gunner, too?!"[/color] He peeked his head around the front of the car and yelled at the infernal, though he knew full well that taunting it wouldn't provoke a reaction, [color=orange]"Bet you're nothing without that little toy of yours! Get down here and fight me like a fucking man!"[/color]

[i][color=Khaki]"Ajax, Vincent, Dallas, I could use some help over here guys!"[/color][/i]

The shout pulled Vincent's attention away from the infernals and over to where Desmond was defending Lysandra, who was doing...something that Vincent didn't understand, from a group of thralls. He looked back over to the gunner and approaching shield infernal and let out a growl. [color=orange]"Alright. First, give them some breathing room. Then, help that infernal discover what his gun tastes like!"[/color] he grumbled to himself.

Still crouching behind it, Vincent turned toward the car he was using as cover. He gripped the frame of the car from underneath and, as crimson and orange energy flickered around his arms and shoulders, he lifted the vehicle up onto its side, exposing the undercarriage. He let go of the frame and gripped the propeller shaft and lifted it until the shaft was level with his shoulder. He held tightly onto the vehicle as he ran to Desmond and Lysandra, using the car as cover. He could feel the car shudder each time the infernal gunner hit the top of the vehicle with its blasts, the metal crunching with each impact, and he hoped the car would hold together at least until he got to where he was going.

When the first thrall noticed him, Vincent jumped and, with a yell, brought the car down on top of the creature. It dissipated almost instantly, but Vincent didn't stop to watch it. Knowing he could take at least a couple more hits from the gunner, Vincent held the car in front of him and charged forward. He used it like a plow, bashing his way through the crowd of Lost that had gathered in front of Desmond and Lysandra, then swung the car to send them flying. He then planted the car on its side between his allies and the gunner infernal to give them cover. [color=orange]"That should buy you a bit of time,"[/color] he told them as he held his side, where he had taken another shot during his mad charge. [color=orange]"I'm gonna get back out there and try to get that fucker shooting at us. If I can get the shield guy, too, then that's a bonus."[/color]

With that, he jumped back out of cover and ran forward once again, narrowly dodging blasts as he yelled obscenities at the infernals.