[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/uDll86I.png[/img]


[color=FF8C00]
RANK 5 (6/50 EXP)[/color]
[color=F92a2a]Level 2 (XP: 3/20)[/color]

[b][u]Twilight Town[/u][/b][/center]

Even though Nadia's techniques weren't able to be taught, according to her at least, Raz was still pretty excited to get a better understanding of how it worked. Back home where everyone with powers was a psychic, you could generally understand what you were getting into in both fighting and teaming up with them. Here, though, every person was different, unique in what they could do and how. He thought it was pretty important to get a grip on his allies' abilities, in case of an emergency. An information-based emergency. It could happen!

Speaking of information, the kid in a weird black robe, Roxas, seemed to have some weighty info of his own. [color=FF8C00]"Organization XIII,"[/color] Raz muttered. Back when he first fell in with the group in Al Mamoon, Raz remembered there was another person who showed up in a robe just like Roxas, someone that the southern guy seemed to know. Lethal Ram? It was hard to place details, since that was also around when he was still under Galeem's influence, so memories were murky. Still, a secret cabal of robed figures operating alongside the Seekers was interesting, though with the way Roxas talked about them, maybe it was something to be more worried about?

The next introduction was Primrose, a dancer who turned out to be friends with Therion, followed by the thief himself. They made a really strange pair. Actually, they reminded Raz of Agents Nein and Vodello, though Therion was a lot more dour than Sasha. Hopefully he manages to come out of his shell at some point. If everyone was raging a campaign against some humongous threat together, being so withdrawn probably wasn't a good thing.

[i]The[/i] Ace Cadet took the spotlight after. Wonder Red felt a little at ease now that another Seeker was withholding their true identity from the team. Even being a necessary precaution it was hard to feel like a real member with the barrier of a secret between him and the rest. [color=F92a2a]"You have experience against large foes?"[/color] Wonder Red asked him once he left the impromptu stage. [color=F92a2a]"We've been trained to combat such enemies too. Maybe we could trade techniques? I'm certain that we'll face enormous threats moving forward, so pooling our knowledge will be a great advantage!"[/color]

Hopefully Ace caught all of that, because Midna's introduction was so spectacular that it nearly drowned out Red's voice! Lightning, giant wolf howls - while not very subtle (at all), it definitely proved Midna's capability as a bruiser. And as a fellow 'big hand' user, Red felt some comradery with her.

Literally jumping at the chance to follow Midna, a tough act to do so, Bowser introduced himself and his "troop", which, as far as Raz could tell, was basically just his family. Bowser himself seemed like the muscle of the troop, and a pretty boastful turtle on top of that. 'Tyrant of terribleness'? Was he some sort of bad guy? Well, if he was helping to stop Galeem, it probably wasn't anything to worry about. His son had a lot less to say about himself, though magic portals, self-made hovercars, and his two, uh, pets? That was all pretty interesting to Raz. Must be hard to talk yourself up when your dad does it twice as loud.

Kamek, the lizard wizard, revealed a point that made Raz look around the group again. [color=FF8C00]"Fusions? Body parts? Spirits?"[/color] So the people that looked strange might [i]not[/i] be like that normally? Who was all fused up and who wasn't? Was it rude to just ask? And if fusion caused physical changes, did it change their mental state too? Way too many questions ran through Raz's head, so he tried to push it to the side and worry about answering them later.

After the troop, Sectonia. Both Raz and Red have journeyed with her for a decent amount of time, though Red only recently, but both were put off by her view of everyone as her minions or subjects. Neither liked the idea of traveling with somebody who saw themselves much higher than them, especially since they were all meant to be a team, but so far nothing she's actually done ran counter to helping them, so... maybe it was another thing that was fine, actually?

When Blazermate started showing off her moves, Raz started to feel a bit self-conscious. It wasn't like [i]he[/i] had a big showcase of his abilities, and everyone else seemed a lot flashier than him, some literally. Had he just come off as a silly kid who couldn't defend himself? Rubbing the side of his helmet Raz tried to shake those thoughts away and focus on the intros. Blazermate was a healer robot, that was easy enough to understand for him. What really had him curious was whether he could actually project into her mind. Did a robot brain count, would his Psycho Portal work on her? He wouldn't try without asking first, of course, but that was for later.

Susie. Probably the shortest introduction of the group so far, and kinda confusing. She was a CEO who specialized in... roboticizing and making wishes? Wonder Red fix her with a look as she hopped down from her summoned "business" suit. For what little she divulged about herself, Red had an odd feeling about her. It could simply be that she was still new to the group and needed time to acclimate, Red convinced himself.

[color=FF8C00]"Man,"[/color] Raz said to nobody in particular as Karin took her turn, [color=FF8C00]"so many people in this group are pretty smart. Tech geniuses, actual robots, joint business-owner-and-ninja-army-leaders. A whole lot of royalty, too. Kinda wish there'd be some normal people around to even things out. Like, the next person to join up being some middle-aged bum who has a mean right hook. Variety, you know?"[/color] Raz's semi-hope came about with Karin's friend, Sakura, who was seemingly as normal a person in this group as there could be. As far as anyone else was aware at least. Still, even if she didn't have a lot of fancy credentials, having another person fighting the big bad was enough of a help!

A monster hunter that looked like a monster, huh? Seemed... poetic, or something. Raz wasn't one to judge though, even if he was trying to track Geralt's pre-fusion appearance. Just, less monster-y? [color=FF8C00]"Where were the monster hunters when we climbed that mountain?"[/color] Raz asked, [color=FF8C00]"things might've gone a lot smoother there if we had you guys with us."[/color]

They had an angel on their side too? This group was getting wilder and wilder with each introduction! And another general on top of that. Having experience in the world-saving business was a real bonus as well. [i]And[/i] he was servant to his own personal goddess! Raz wondered why they had to do this whole ground-level war when they could ask for Palutena's help with Galeem, even just a quick ride to them. She wasn't also Galeem'd too, was she? That was a scary thought.

A young monochromatic boy introduced himself now, Omori, and with it came a sense of apprehension for Wonder Red. While Razputin Aquato and Bowser Junior seemed capable and had proper protection, Omori looked like an ordinary kid, for a given sense of the word. HE may have managed to make it thus far but it still rubbed Red the wrong way, simply allowing so many kids to be part of this war. What if Omori got hurt? The abilities tied to emotions might help in part, but wasn't that too volatile of a safety net in all-out combat? Red would have to keep a better eye on Omori from here on, for protection.

Jesse Faden, the only person besides Razputin to have a surname it seemed - or at least willing to divulge one - came next. Seems she was another psychic, and an armed one at that. When she mentioned her friends in trouble, Red tried to ease her mind. [color=F92a2a]"Do not worry Jesse Faden. The people at Alcamoth has plenty of capable mercenaries they can dispatch to help. It might do you well to put in an official word over there, before we all head off to the Metro."[/color]

Last but certainly not least (from what he said about himself) was Bede, who called himself a Pokemon Trainer, along with a whole heapload of boasting about his potential. Wonder Red didn't have much issue with showboating or talking oneself up - he just hoped that it wasn't misplaced ego and Bede had the skills to back it up with. Red also noted that Bede's Pokemon were similar to Mimi and Dazzle, Bowser Junior's pets. Interesting.

And that was everyone! Or, near enough everyone. Peach proposed lunch, which was a [i]great[/i] idea in Raz's opinion. He was starving. Everyone walked down Market Street, preparing for the picnic as they went. Raz took the time to take stock of his belongings; he still has his handful of Psi Pops for a quick pick-me-up, health-wise, and he wasn't needing anything else... [color=FF8C00]"Oh! Bacon!"[/color] Raz took out his little baggie with a strip of bacon in it, and carefully disposed of the meat. It was getting old. [color=FF8C00]"Anybody know where there's a good slice of bacon? I'm gonna need it moving forward."[/color] For any strange looks that garnered, Raz elaborated, [color=FF8C00]"Oh, see, Agent Cruller put a little psychic hook in my brain, so whenever I need to call on him I just need to wave his favorite food near my ear. Bacon!"[/color] That probably just made the looks stranger.

Neither he nor Red had money of their own, and nothing to really spend it one besides, so they helped with the lunch prep. Sitting down to eat, Raz piled his plate up with one huge sandwich, meats and cheeses and pickles stuffed like a small mountain between two pieces of bread. Wonder Red took a simpler approach and made himself several small sandwiches made for maximum protein. He was going to need his strength for the next leg of their journey.

Deliberations for what that next leg [i]was[/i] began, and as the discussion started to narrow on a few key locations, Raz threw his two cents in towards this 'Dystopiascape' place. A technological hotspot that was also the bed for political intrigue? As Raz put it himself, [color=FF8C00]"there's no better place that Sasha would end up going. Sasha Nein is one of my fellow agents, and my personal hero. Maybe there's other Psychonauts there too! I [i]have[/i] to check it out."[/color]

Wonder Red also gave his inclination towards the place. [color=F92a2a]"With Commander Nelson returning to Alcamoth to oversee the complete of the Virgin Victory's repairs, it's imperative that I help in dealing with the Timefall there. And, like Razputin Aquato said, a big hub of activity might house some Wonderful One-Double-Oh members."[/color]

Now that it was all decided, and all their stomachs full, it was time to get back to business. The trip back to the Metro was uneventful - it was just a train ride after all - but before anyone could split off for another search of Pons, things went south quickly. The large tolling of the clock and the sudden emptying of the Metro brought the hairs on Raz's neck standing. Red scanned their surroundings, fearing an ambush, as the young psychic pulled his goggles from his forehead over his eyes, a sign that anyone he'd traveled with knew meant things... were about to get [i]dangerous[/i].

As if they needed the help.

[color=FF8C00]"Everyone for the Black Line, follow me!"[/color] Raz shouted over the growing noise of their feline pursuers, summoning his Levitiation ball and bounding down a safe walkway. [color=FF8C00]"I got a good look at where all the rails went the first time we were here, I can figure out how to get to the station! Just keep up!"[/color] Rolling a bit ahead of the group Raz did his best to keep their path clear, Psi-blasting away groups of cats that broke from the surge to block their way forward.

In their mad dash towards their station, things were pretty hectic. Between the rush of the cats after them and the chaotic nature of the Metro itself, it was no wonder than some people would end up on a different rooftop or level than the rest. One such was Wonder Red, having been cut off from the group in trying to fend off a gang of cats flanking them. On a railway a bit above Raz and the rest, Red looked ahead, and saw the tide of cats starting to close around them. Thinking quick, he summoned his Howler striker; being surrounded by so many enemies triggered its piercing shriek quickly, stunning the few ambitious felines climbing towards Red, and summoning four Hollows from the brickwork just beneath them. Red hopped down from his railway, falling a very brief distance just in time for a train to pass in front of him...

[center][b][i][color=F92a2a]"Wondeeeeeer PUNCH!!"[/color][/i][/b][/center]
In a blink of an eye Red summoned his Unite Morph, slamming into the side of the passing train with enough force to send it flying off its tracks, crashing through the mob just in front of his companions, clearing the way forward. However, this left Red himself in a bad predicament, as he was falling further down now, towards an unending horde of cats that ended up beneath them like a wave of water. In a bit of a panic Red de-morph his Hand, twirled around so he faced downwards, and...

[center][b][i][color=F92a2a]"Uniiiiiiite SWORD!!"[/color][/i][/b][/center]
In the same one-billionth of a second a massive sword spawned from Red's extended fist, the tip planted firmly against the ground. He was balanced over the mob like a polevaulter mid-vault. Before any cats could climb the Morph to get at him, though, Red swung it sideways, up and around, striking the ground against from an angle, and using the momentum of the force to [i]actually[/i] vault himself over the crowd to a safe metal walkway off to the side.

Once he touched down, Red dematerialized his Morph, letting his summoned Strikers land on the walkway alongside him... and, much less gracefully, some fellow Seekers that had been caught in the radius of his Unite Morph from the very first ([@Yankee]'s Ace Cadet, [@Lugubrious]'s Big Band, & anyone else who wants to follow to Frozen Highlands). For the first time, Red looked flustered. [color=F92a2a]"O-Oh, I'm sorry about that,"[/color] he said, helping them to their feet. [color=F92a2a]"I didn't realize that, ah, you were close enough to be acquired like that. I thought my Unite Morphs were bigger than usual... Are you okay?"[/color] His fretting would have to be put on hold, however, since the group was now cut off from their designated teams, and no easy way back up.

[color=F92a2a]"Anyways, uh, right. In my haste to protect our teammates I seem to have gotten us stuck away from them. I'm low on power from the Morphs, so we might have to consider as retreat."[/color]

Back up to the group heading for the Black Line, things weren't looking much better. After a couple of turns, hops, and daring leaps between moving trains later, and Raz skid to a halt in front of a vending machine right in what looked like a dead-end. [color=FF8C00]"Up there!"[/color] Raz pointed straight up, where an opening forward sat, farther up the wall. Only a single, lazy vacuum was there, taking its sweet time coming down to them, so they'd have to get up on their own.[hr][center]2,614 Words
+3 EXP[/center]