[sub][s]Crusader Lord[/s][@FamishedPants][/sub] The giant armored man shook Sam’s hand with narry a word, only a low growl escaped his helmet as their hands briefly touched. As soon as the shade stepped back, the knight’s sword was soon in his hand. [color=#bd71e8]”I’ll be watching from the distance.”[/color] Fritzi waved to her espers before departing. [color=#bd71e8]”Put on a show.”[/color] But Lilliah was just frozen. She had no idea what to tell Samuel, or what such an intimidating opponent could do. Her hands trembled as she tightened her grip on her staff, the flames from her last big fight still fresh in her mind. But the duel had been delayed enough, and the Pink Pounder did not plan on holding back any longer. “[color=#FF00FF]L[/color][color=#FF00FB]e[/color][color=#FF00F8]t[/color][color=#FF00F4]'[/color][color=#FF00F1]s[/color] [color=#FF00EA]m[/color][color=#FF00E6]a[/color][color=#FF00E3]k[/color][color=#FF00DF]e[/color] [color=#FF00D8]t[/color][color=#FF00D5]h[/color][color=#FF00D2]i[/color][color=#FF00CE]s[/color] [color=#FF00C7]f[/color][color=#FF00C4]i[/color][color=#FF00C0]g[/color][color=#FF00BD]h[/color][color=#FF00B9]t[/color] [color=#FF00B2]o[/color][color=#FF00AF]n[/color][color=#FF00AB]e[/color] [color=#FF00A5]t[/color][color=#FF00A1]o[/color] [color=#FF009A]r[/color][color=#FF0097]e[/color][color=#FF0093]m[/color][color=#FF0090]e[/color][color=#FF008C]m[/color][color=#FF0089]b[/color][color=#FF0085]e[/color][color=#FF0082]r[/color][color=#FF007E]![/color]” Shield raised and sword charged with a melody, the Pink pounder lunged for Samuel, crooked steel arcing over the knights shoulder in a direct path with the esper. But it would be intercepted. Lilliah had, without warning, decided to press her attack as the Pink Pounder slid towards Silhouette. There was little he could do to capitalize on the attack, as it came so suddenly and without warning. Blade struck staff, and the knight should have been left open, but that was not the case. Lilliah’s staff was pushed off to the side by a powerful melody, all while another surge of energy pushed back against the pounder’s blade. Though while the Pink Pounder’s blade was pushed back, he was able to pivot on one foot and allow his other to slam into Lilliah’s rib cage. Not six seconds into the fight and Lilliah was already doubled over on the ground. So much for the team work exercise. Sam could feel Fritzi’s eyes burning into his back. But surely he would not give into despair. Not with the session having just started, not with an able foe before him. If he could not fight the Pounder. Then what would happen the next time he encountered Lenore? Magical Dream Princess could only watch, tears of worry streaming down her face. But she did not remain idle either. From her position on the floor, she pointed her star-tipped wand at the heavens, and magic gathered. [hr] A melody was spun, and then, mere moments later, a car was spinning too, an abrupt cry sounding out from inside the vehicle before it spun out into the forest, smashing back first into a ditch. There was no time to ruminate on the success of Tetrad’s first spell, however. Even as the radio burst out into a flurry of messages, they were already hundreds of meters away from the destroyed vehicle, the Patriot’s engine roaring, the wheels of the remaining escort squealing as it spun around to face them, now driving in reverse as it changed lanes to cover the armored car’s back. What was the point of that though? What tactical advantage could be offered by spinning around backwards, exposing the car’s engine to direct enemy fire? Lenny soon found out and let out an incredulous laugh. The hood of the car split open, and a minigun attachment revealed itself. In the roar of the wind and the static of the radio, it was hard to hear it, but Tetrad could almost barely make out a muffled ‘Say Hello to my little friend!’ coming out from the distant car. And then, after that, there was nothing else to be heard, but the jackhammer blast of hundreds of bullets unloading towards them. Sparks flew and the chassis was ripped apart as the eyepatched woman made as evasive of a maneuver as she could down the empty freeway. “They got a James Bond budget!” If it kept up, they wouldn’t have a car left before those muzzles melted. But that was just how it was, as a Maverick Esper. [center]THE BOOK OF SOULS IS MISSING YOUR NAME[h3]YOUR FISTS ARE HARDER[/h3][h2]FIRST TRY[/h2][h1]ATTACK[/h1][/center] [hr] [sub][@SilverPaw][@Majoras End][/sub] The receptionist, after having gone through way too many emotions over the past minute or two, only favoured Leroux with a dazed glance before slumping to the sidewalk, staring at nothing in particular. Perhaps it would take a while longer for her to recover from whatever had actually happened, or perhaps she’d be able to get the help she needed soon after. Regardless of what fate ultimately befell her, however, Leroux didn’t stick around to find out, re-entering the clinic immediately. Timekeeper’s report on the physical documents that he was able to flip through during the time she was gone didn’t come up with anything particularly useful. There were folders that contained information on patients, written in a way that made the layman’s head spin, and there was a schedule posted up that showed when the day’s patients were to arrive, with most of them looking to arrive during the evening hours. He found the small, satisfyingly geometric device that was dispensing the aroma as well, but more importantly, the rapier-wielding Esper found the basic blueprints of the clinic as well, the veracity of the information proven quickly once he followed after Breacher. The corridor, broken up into intervals of shadow and light, contained two smaller rooms on the right, where patients could confide in private with Dr. Sycamore, as well as a larger room to the left that looked to allow for some light physical activity. At the end of the singular corridor, there would be a door leading to the staircase that [i]should[/i] just go to the second, residential floor. And yet, there was something else at the end as well. An elevator. There was no display indicating where the elevator itself currently was, but the ‘up’ and ‘down’ buttons glowed gently with an amber light. [hr] [sub][@The World][@Ponn][@ERode][/sub] The police woman gave Klava a nod of approval as she served herself a drink. [b]”Hell yea sister! Rock and roll this shit real good!”[/b] With their course decided, the espers sprung into action. Marrie passed on a silver flight melody to Klava before running up the stairs with Ashley. That left the police to deal with the bouncers. [b]”Alright guys, just like we practiced!”[/b] As the bouncers approached, the police woman stumbled towards them, seemingly drunk out of her mind. Not a terribly difficult opponent, but what was going to make things more interesting was what the other two guys did. They immediately whipped out their cell phones and started filming her as she stumbled over to the bouncers. One of them cussed under their breath. [b]”Very well…”[/b] … … … The novice espers hurried up the stairs to distance themselves from the bouncers. Maybe they rushed the door, maybe they gave it a gentle turn first as to not allert anyone. But the result would be the same, they’d enter the sweep. To the sight of Sofron sporting a SPAS-12. [center] The Box is locked[h3]This town aint big enough![/h3][h2]First Regret[/h2][h1]MAKE IT SLOPPY[/h1] [/center] Not that it would be easy for the novice espers to tell exactly what type of shotgun he was using, but it was quite relevant. The SPAS-12 had a special foldingt stock that was usually folded up in the videogames and movies it appeared in, which was a waste really. With the stock down, it could absorb a lot more recoil from the self-loading shotgun. Some versions had a hook end on the stock that was useful for holding and firing the shotgun while driving. While Sofron wasn’t behind the wheel of a car, he did have this brace on, and had no difficulty firing it single handedly at the espers. Ashley’s shield would block most of the pellets, but Sofron wasn’t just laying down suppressing fire. There was a melody in his off-hand. [color=0099a6]Baleful Undertow!"[/color] It would take Klava a moment later to fly in front of the window, but not much later. Silver flight was about as fast as she could normally move, and it wasn’t like the emergency exit was out of reach. Though it seemed like Sofron had planned on escaping out the window, as the glass was starting to slide out of the way. The air was filled with the hum of several electric servos, slowly but surely moving the window out of the way. Though standing at the mouth of the window wasn’t aSofron, but a squirrel girl. [b]”Seems we got somebody pe-can on us!”[/b] The rodent woman grabbed the dining room table and threw it out the window, spinning end over end as unfinished meals and a tablecloth was whisked into the air. Klava had just enough time to see her brandish two tonfas, but that was before the tablecloth obscured her position. Though her screaming made it apparent that she was coming closer to the frost maiden.