[hr][center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjcyLjQwOWM1Zi5SR0Z5Wlc0Z1RXVjBlbWRsY2csLC42/punk-kid.regular.png[/img] [img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjcyLjAwZmY5YS5WV3h5YVdNZ1JHOTBZV2x5LjM,/xirod.regular.webp[/img][/center] [right][code]Gold City - Horizon Frontiers North American HQ[/code][/right][hr] Gold City was one of the richest and wealthiest cities in the country, with towering, brilliantly-shining skyscrapers, monuments to commerce filling the city's skyline. However, it was also infamous for it's rampant crime and corruption. Virtually any big company that put property in the city was bound to keep a few skeletons in the backroom, behind smiling clerks and busy offices. So, it should come as no surprise that Horizon Frontiers, one of the world's largest biotechnological & medical foundations, would use the city to host it's North American Regional Headquarters. The sixty-five stories reaching towards the sun were full of doctors offices, cubicles, and laboratories that worked in a constant buzz of medicinal progress. But no matter how hard investigators and reporters would search, nobody ever found so much as a crumb of incriminating evidence to Horizon's shady business. No; Instead, Horizon Frontiers had it's true colors underneath the earth, a loose net of secret laboratories, development rooms, and living quarters for high-interest staff, who would casually go about their highly-illegal work. [i][b]*Shnk*[/b][/i] [i][b]*Shnk*[/b][/i] [i][b]*Shnk*[/b][/i] [i][b]*Shnk*[/b][/i] Daren Metzger leaned back in a chair in the Control Room. In his good hand was an absurdly large meat cleaver, one more akin to yet barely qualifying as a sword owing to it's long blade. In his other, a cheap prosthetic, he grazed a whetstone against it in rhythmic motion, sending sparks flying with every graze. The blade shone brilliantly, absent of any chips or dulling, as the butcher endlessly shaved it's edge. Suddenly, a Scalpel stabbed into the wall behind him, mere inches from his head, catching his attention. [color=00FF7A]"Would you knock that off already?!"[/color] Ulric Dotair snapped. He had been sitting at the console of the control room as Daren lazed in the back, and the constant grating noise had finally gotten to him. [color=409C5F]"Sure, I'll just sit here quietly, doing [i]completely[/i] nothing, while we wait for Bird Girl to tell us where the Stone is. If she does,"[/color] Daren shrugged, sitting forward and tossing his whetstone aside, propping his Cleaver to his side. Ulric let out a defeated sigh, then pulled on the communicator, [color=00FF7A]"Arianna? Come in. How's the view out there? Spot any 'shiny yet?"[/color] [hr] [center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjcyLjE0ODM1Ny5RWEpwWVc1dVlTQk1aV2R2YzJVLjA/rabid-science.regular.webp[/img] [@Drag][/center] [right][code]Gold City - Financial District[/code][/right][hr] All across the city, flocks of birds would watch the folk below go about their daily lives. But among them, were not birds at all. Dozens of spy drones perched themselves across the city, completely inconspicuous to any wandering eyes, secretly observing the entire city and all of it's passerby. They especially kept tabs on the city's people of interest, watching them from a distance all day. Justin, Jaden, Jasmine, Jill, Lucas, the drones kept a tab on all of them as they went about their business, sending their data back to Arianna Legose, herself perched on top of the rooftop. Using her stealth suit's built-in systems, she was able to view the feeds of all her drones, tracking their locations as they all convened. [color=148457]"Not yet,"[/color] Arianna spoke, pressing the side of her head. As soon as her drones identified MIRAGE goons prowling around the city, Horizon immediately leapt into position. They knew why they were here: To track down the Powerstone, which had been lost in the confusion of the Battle in Antarctica. While Arianna was confident in her and Horizon's resources being able to find the stone themselves in no time, MIRAGE's sudden appearance was unexpected, but welcome. If they were willing to launch a full-scale attack on the city, then they must have had a decent idea to where the Stone was. So, Arianna decided to sit back and wait, watching as Mirage floundered across the city, looking for answers. A few Mirage goons started an explosion downtown, which drew some attention, both of the law and the likes of Jill or Justin, which Arianna saw as their locations began to convene. On the other hand, she noticed a peculiar figure approaching the offices of Sunlight Shipping, the organization that helped move the Powerstone, which had been a location of interest for Arianna as well. Noticing him sulk around the building as the explosions downtown rang out and people began to panic, Arianna did a quick scan and consulted a database and-- Oh god damnit, it was Voyt. She could hardly recognize the Mirage assassin when he didn't look like he walked right off the set of a Western. But, the scars and facial pattern didn't lie. [color=148457]"Hold on, I think I got a lead on them having a lead. Down at Sunlight Shipping Offices, engaging target!"[/color] Arianna spoke back through the transmitter before cutting off. She stood on the edge of the rooftop, spreading her arms wide out. In a moment, the sleeves of the Huginn-Module transformed into razor, bladed feathers. Arianna's mask flipped down, covering her face in a long pointed beak. Arianna then hopped off the edge of the roof, falling straight downward, before turning up and using the draft to soar over the streets and land in a roll down the same alleyway behind the building that Voyt slipped into. Her drones followed suit, flying after her into the alleyway, surrounding Voyt in a cacophony of screeches. [color=148457]"Howdy partner,"[/color] Arianna greeted mockingly, before ejecting her razor-sharp talons, [color=148457]"I'm guessing you're looking for a certain shiny bauble too?"[/color] [hr][hr] [color=00FF7A]"Sunlight Shipping? Alright, Just hang in there, Daren's on his--"[/color] Ulric began, before being cut off as Arianna disabled the transmitter, and immediately leapt into action. Ulric sighed. [color=409C5F]"That's my cue?"[/color] Daren asked, perking up. [color=00FF7A]"Yes. Sunlight Shipping Offices, over in the Financial District. There was an explosion out in the streets, Go [i]around[/i] it, do you hear me?"[/color] Ulric instructed. [color=409C5F]"Oh yeah, sure, I'll definitely go [i]around[/i] the action,"[/color] Daren opened the door and began walking out, shutting it behind him. It took then for Ulric to understand that his associate had very little interest in engaging the actual mission, and was very likely to get caught up in whatever caused the explosion all of the other Nomads were rapidly approaching. [color=00FF7A]"I am surrounded by [i]children[/i],"[/color] Ulric groaned, placing his head into his hands in the empty control room.