[h3][color=#66b2b2]ARIA: THE PROTECTOR[/color] | The Mavericks[/h3][sub]Reporting to: Billy Black[/sub][hr] [sub]LA GARAGE Collab w/ [@BrokenPromise][/sub]

[indent]Protector had set the pyromancers down once they started to tear up. The only thing that filled the air between them were their cries and dust from the wine cellar explosion. The girl was sobbing too hard to respond, but the boy jerked his head up in response to Protector's words.

[b]”What?“[/b] He groaned. [b]”I don’t know! Why are you doing anything with us?“[/b] He sniffed. [b]”Y-you’re the enemy anyway. Justin gave us a home, and you’re taking us away from it!“[/b]

Some shuffling deeper inside the wine cellar grabbed everyone’s attention. 

[b]”Don’t you understand, hunny bun?“[/b] It was Gunther’s voice. He wasn’t visible, but his voice was too fresh in the Protector’s mind for her to forget it. [b]”They [i]like[/i] doing things like this. I watched her slaughter your family. They weren’t content to just kill White and Green, they decapitated them and cut off their legs for good measure! I’m sorry cutie, but it’s going to be a closed casket.“[/b]

[b]”What?!“[/b] The boy’s voice cracked. [b]”T-that’s absurd!“[/b]

[b]”Have I ever lied to you?“[/b] Several white flames came out of the dust.. [b]”Their superior gave an order, and that was all it took to get their blood pumping!“[/b]

[b]”None of this feels real…“[/b] The teenager looked at the Protector, but took a moment to muster his words. His lower lip was quivering. [b]”I don’t understand, why are you sparing us?“[/b]

[b][color=#66b2b2]”Please–”[/color][/b] The Protector only managed to reach for the children, muttering that one word before clutching at its helmet as the ghost’s voice assaulted its mindspace once more.

[b]”I’m [i]also[/i] curious.“[/b] The ghost chuckled. [b]”How do you live with yourself?“[/b]

[i][color=#66b2b2]Yamete![/color][/i] The sentinel howled internally. However, the taunts and frustration would not so easily get to the esper. It managed to look at the children despite the immense struggle, facing their misery straight on. How did it live with itself? The Protector slowly shook its head, laid down its weapon, and raised its hands as if to show it was not a threat.

[b][color=#66b2b2]”I don’t want to harm you. I never wanted to…”[/color][/b] The armored esper breathily spoke, suppressing the shake in its voice by mustering up the resolve to get its message across. There was no justification to be expressed, only an apology from the deepest crevices of its heart. [b][color=#66b2b2]”...but I can’t deny what has happened, and I… I'm sorry. That is all I can ever be towards you. So please… I’d like to keep the rest of you safe, if you’ll let me…”[/color][/b] 

With that, the Protector got down on its knee in front of the children to await its verdict. Evidently, it dreaded every moment of it, but it also used this time to gather the strength to move forward no matter what happened next.

[b]”What an  [i]interesting[/i] gambit!“[/b] Gunther smacked his lips, and the white flames flew into some of the scattered concrete fragments. leftovers from when Billy plowed through the sealed off entrance to the cellar. [b]”Now the only way you can get [i]vengeance[/i] is if you kill this bipolar suit of armor, effectively stooping to their level.“[/b]

[b]”All I know…“[/b] The girl started to speak up. [b]”Is that Justin didn’t want to experiment on us like everyone else did.“[/b]

[b]”Worry not, little birds. Let Handsome Gunther take care of this for you. No need to sully your hands with them.“[/b]

A giant slab of concrete hovered on either side of Protector. It was only by holding onto their shield that they were able to stay in the esper state. The giant rocks on either side of them would surely crush them if they did nothing. Would they move? Just accept the end?

They wouldn’t get the chance to decide.

A rocket cruised out from behind a row of headlights and slammed into one of the concrete boulders. The other one was intercepted by a pair of claws attached to scissor mechanisms that propelled them out of the darkness and into the other boulder. Protector was showered by stone shrapnel, all of which bounced harmlessly off of her armor. 

All eyes looked towards the lights, and out stepped two women. They were just silhouettes at first, but as they got closer their features came into shape. Still kneeling on the ground, the sentinel craned its neck slowly, its expressionless helmet focused on the couple that approached. It was in awe.

They were Maverick if their outfits were anything to go by. The one on Protector’s right was a woman in a gothic dress with twintails, armed with an RPG7 covered in phone charms. On their left was a [url=https://i.pinimg.com/564x/09/e2/30/09e230c71a7df016453a64c57dc1d939.jpg]jester[/url], with the extendable claws attached to their forearms.

[color=CCBFFF]”That was a close one!”[/color] The bazoka goth loaded another rocket.

The jester shook her head. [color=#db79ee]“Nu-uh! We were totally waiting for our moment to strike this grody guy!”[/color]

[b]”There’s more?”[/b] Gunther groaned. [b]”I have other house guests to attend to, but if you want to join the festivities, I’ll wait for you inside.”[/b] And with that, the white flames flew back towards the mansion.

The goth breathed a sigh of relief and strut towards Protector .[color=CCBFFF]”Saving kids huh? My man!”[/color] With a giggle, she extended her hand towards the kneeling knight. [color=CCBFFF]”I’m Kristina! You must be one of Frost’s friends?”[/color]


[b][color=#66b2b2]”...Frost? Ah, Miss Klava, yes I am…”[/color][/b] The Protector hummed in a momentary daze at the entrance of its two saviors. After being greeted well, it swiftly rose to its feet and politely reached a quick hand out to shake Kristina’s, but she too seemed to be in a daze.

[color=CCBFFF]”Klaaaava~<3! My angel’s name is every bit as beautiful as she is!”[/color]

[b][color=#66b2b2]”Indeed, she is very beautiful…!”[/color][/b] The armored esper scratched the back of its head, a little caught of guard by the out of place conjecture, but still managing to find its smile because of it. [b][color=#66b2b2]”Ah… sorry, I go by the Protector. Thank you both very much.” [/color][/b]

Kristina snapped out of her trance with a start. [color=CCBFFF]”Hup! Oh! Uh, Protector huh? Well, this is Jezebel, but she usually just goes by Jez.”[/color] She waved towards the jester.

Jez pointed at herself with her thumb. [color=#db79ee]“That’s the name, don’t wear it out!”[/color] 

[b][color=#66b2b2]”It’s very nice to meet you, Miss Jez. Thank you for your help.”[/color][/b] The Protector gave a deep bow.

Kristina placed a hand on her hip. [color=CCBFFF]”You almost became a Protector sandwich!”[/color]

[b][color=#66b2b2]”You’re right… I don’t know what would have happened if…”[/color][/b] The suit of armor’s voice trailed off after it looked left and right, seemingly scanning the area for the children, only to notice that they were not in the same spot adjacent to where it was kneeling only moments before.  [b][color=#66b2b2]”...Please excuse me for one moment.”[/color][/b]

The two kids were hugging each other, and were slowly inching their way back towards the wine cellar. In a gentle rush, the Protector hopped over to their sides and carefully wrapped its arms around the two to keep them from moving, picking them up in a non-threatening cradle. 

[b][color=#66b2b2]”Please, listen to me– you can’t go back there without getting yourselves hurt.”[/color][/b] The sentinel whispers to them, its voice gentle and unassuming. The tin canniness did little to alleviate the intimidation of the armor’s size, but its tone did fairly well to express its intentions. With that, it looked to the two women and made an effort to brief them on the situation at the very least. 

[b][color=#66b2b2]”My friends… my allies are still inside the mansion. They’re fighting along with Billy. I need to go back and help them, but I can’t risk these children getting hurt. Is there anywhere we can bring them?”[/color][/b]

[color=#db79ee]“Like, hell yea!”[/color] Jez raised her fists into the air. [color=#db79ee]“I can totally dig through any rubble with these. We’ll kick those G.E.M.I.N.I.’s butts in no time!”[/color] She dashed ahead to start clearing a way. At this, the Protector couldn’t help but furrow its brows in concern.

Kristina looked at the pyromancers and then back at Protector. [color=CCBFFF]”I think they’ll be fine if we leave them alone.”[/color] She cleaned her ear with her pinky. [color=CCBFFF]”Anyway! Wanna join us?”[/color] 

[b][color=#66b2b2]”Yes, I’d love to join– Actually, I need to… It’s just…”[/color][/b] The Protector leveled a concerned glance at the children before setting them down as lightly as it could, rubbing their backs gently to let out any restricted air they built up while it was carrying them. It knelt down to speak. [b]”...If I promise you everything I have; to give you security, find you a home… will you stay here where it’s safe until all of this is over?”[/b]

The teenagers only responded by looking at Protector, unable to control their tears. They had been made to fight to protect their home, and were now being told by their friends/families murderer that they needed to remain where it was safe. A single esper was powerful enough to subdue them, did they even have a choice? They nodded to Protector’s proposal.

[b][color=#66b2b2]”Thank you.”[/color][/b] The Protector smiled in its heart, gratefully patting their heads.


[color=#db79ee]”That tunnel won’t dig itself!”[/color] Jez walked ahead. [color=#db79ee]“This will just take a few seconds. Totally!”[/color]

[color=CCBFFF]”They’re gunna be fine! I doubt that ghost is gunna come out here with us going in. But they might be safer if they fall back a little further.”[/color] The Maverick espers may not have fully understood the situation. [color=CCBFFF]”Welp! I’d better catch up to Jez. We’ll have to talk more later when we aren’t on an operation.”[/color] Kristina patted Protector on the shoulder and walked inside. 

Nodding in turn, the Protector opted to pick up the two children once again and seat them a little further away from the entrance to the wine cellar. 

[b][color=#66b2b2]”I’ll come get you two once we are finished.”[/color][/b] With that, it recovered its spear from the floor and made its way to catch up to Kristina and Jezebel. It took a couple more glances behind it to make sure the children were alright before fully committing to the journey back into the mansion, eager to see its allies, and determined to get the operation over with. However, there was one thing that still lingered on the Protector’s mind…

[b][color=#66b2b2]”Earlier… you mentioned that the GEMINI were here?”[/color][/b] The sentinel asked the women as it trailed alongside the two.

Walking back into the wine cellar revealed that there wasn’t too much damage. The brick structure held for the most part, with only the stairway up ahead caving in. But Jezebel already had the hole half dug by the time Protector arrived. These espers were [i]moving[/i]. [color=#db79ee]“Like, not that hard to imagine, right?”[/color] Jez spoke without looking at Protector. [color=#db79ee]“Billy must have told you with the briefing there was a possibility of this happening. There was a huge war about it on Shimr. The gems don’t want us here and junk, and we know they can’t take a chill pill. Anywho, they’re totally here. We got a text seconds ago.”[/color]

Kristina ran to the other side of the room, where Jez had nearly finished digging. [color=CCBFFF]”I was hoping we wouldn’t meet them head on. We could have attacked any day, what are the chances?”[/color] She folded her arms. [color=CCBFFF]”The first thing I’m gunna do is make sure Klava is safe! And if that means firing on gems, so be it!”[/color]

The Protector internally smacked its forehead– of course it forgot that detail. It even had a plan when accepting this mission in the first place to not get entangled with the GEMINI as much as possible… but now that it’s really come to this it needed to admit that it wasn’t prepared for how they would meet. It really was difficult for a freelancer. Perhaps it needed to rethink its “alternating-organisation” pattern of accepting missions… even if that was its best bet to stay in the middle ground between the two embittered factions as much as possible. 

Miss Valkyrie, Miss Su, Miss Binky, Miss Leroux, Mister Silhouette… they were all agents the Protector had worked with before, and had even grown fond of after their first mission together. And for the weretiger operation with Valkyrie and Su, it only made the sentinel feel even worse about having to possibly face off against them this time around. It gripped its spear tighter, breathing out a deep sigh to prepare itself. Times like these, it often wonders whether it’s even cut out for this job. With its heart on its sleeve and affectionate nature, was it the esper they truly needed? Especially at a time like this?

With a shake of its helmet, the esper brought itself back down to Earth. Inside the mansion was a dangerous enemy that needed to be taken care of first and foremost. With that said, it mustered up its strength, channeled the nursery teacher within, and continued to move in confidently. Whatever happened… it would simply try its best to make the right choices.[/indent][hr]
[h3]Inner Circle[/h3] [sub]with [@Erode][@Majoras End][@OwO][@BrokenPromise][/sub]

[indent]The Protector had to break into a jog after witnessing Kristina's evident determination to reach Klava. It surely did them some good, it realized, as they walked straight into a mouth-off between its allies. Unfortunately, it recognized everyone within the room. It could only sigh in its heart when it locked (helmet) eyes with the GEMINI agents, who seemed to have tried to engage with its current team not long before they had entered. Thankfully, everyone was still alive, albeit a little injured. Its gauntlet tightened gently around the spear, ready to attempt to get in between the two parties if things started taking a turn for the worse.

Fortunately, it did go in that direction, however in a way that would perhaps allow them to unite. It was a hopeful thought, maybe a little naive, but the Protector was not ready to even think of taking any more lives on this day. There were about a hundred and one things that began to stir soon after, with a combination of furniture and inanimate objects coming to life. It gestured an appreciative nod towards Apollo when he took the initiative to light up the room, granting back vision of the room.

At this point, the Protector's shield was still glowing, however with much less mana coursing through and around it this time around. Fortunately, its appearance did not correlate to its effectiveness. The Protector would prioritize defending its allies and do its best to move around the room, using its shield's gravitational pull to direct inanimate objects to crash into each other. It was handy for sure, and for the times where its spear's edge would miss, it would simply glue the target thing to its shield and force its momentum into another direction, effectively defending itself and giving its team time to act.[/indent]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/hkusrvW.png[/img][/center]