[img]https://i.imgur.com/fCa90aX.jpg[/img]
Bounding across the air, Alex made it to the top of the wall in little time at all. He was met by a collection of nervous guard all geared up in their frames trying to keep a growing crowd of spectators from getting too close to the rail.His arrival was heralded by a round of applause and cheers. 

Right. Time to do the hero thing. He put on a big smile despite the full face helmet and waved to the crowd. As he got close to the edge one of the older and more grizzled of the guards present walked into step with him.[b] “The old cat is pacing like a tiger out there. Hasn’t tested the walls yet but I’d rather not have it get to that.”[/b]

Alex nodded and rolled his shoulders. [color=deepskyblue][b]“Best not let him think he can take over my territory then huh?” 
[/b][/color]

That hit him a flat look in response. [b]“People have been talking. You’ve been a bit off your game the last few days. Nobody would think less of you if you had a little help this time.” [/b]

Nobody but myself. Alex didn’t dare let that slip past his lips though, had to keep an air of confidence. [color=deepskyblue][b]“I’m fine, I got this.”[/b][/color] Despite everything he was seen as more than just the top Rogue in the area. Being a symbol on your own was far from easy. He motioned for people to give him some space. When room was made, a flash of blue launched him off the edge. 
He tried to focus. Even not knowing where the cameras or drones were there was this keen awareness of a growing number of eyes focused on him. Let it fade, this is supposed to get rid of your stress and nerves. Ironic given what he was up against. Not one for a three point landing, Alex simply crashed to the ground feet first. Knees bending to absorb the impact entirely on instinct. What dust and debris were kicked up were blown away with a quick burst of blue. 

[i]And there the beast was.[/i]

Regional Apex’s were near mythical in their reputation and often in capability as well. Scarhide was the more simple of the Undercity legends. A hulking feline form of pure muscle. A brute if there ever was one. Colossal was a fitting description. Each step of its egs made the ground rumble just so slightly. 

Alex met the beasts three eyes and began to pace along the same path as it or breaking eye contact as the mutant lion head snarled at him. Scarhide at some point had four, but one on the right side of their face had been scared over and blinded long before Alex even became a rogue. 
[color=deepskyblue][b]“Hey buddy. Been a bit. Your early you know. Wasn’t expecting you to test me for another week. Did the Scream make you all grumpy?”[/b][/color]

He got a growl like grinding stone in response.[b][color=deepskyblue]“Oh yeah, your grumpy alright.”[/color][/b] There was always a moment needed to really take in the sight of such a creature. There was little hair over its dark gray body except a mane of black hair on its high ridged back. Its body and front legs absurdly muscular, all connecting to the large hump that fused into its neck and back. On anything else the proportions would look forward leaning and top heavy. Alex was [i]very[/i] well aware though of how much ludicrous strength that turbo lion’s body held. Too top it all of,  it’s head had a wicked pair of sharp bull like horns. One larger then the other. Alex had broken one off a year ago. Pretty sure the cat never forgave him.

Nearly in sync, the two stopped at the same time and squared up. Alex cracked his neck and clenched his fists. His usual floating array of secondary armor springing into existence. 

That was all the Turbo Lion needed. In one pounce, hundreds of feet were cleared instantly. It’s roar was a wall of sound that made Alex’s teeth rattle. Scything claws and a gaping maw of man sized teeth drew in fast, ready to rend. Alex however didn’t charge to meet his adversary. Instead launching right under it, and catapulting upwards. Uppercutting Scarhide’s breastbone. 

Not holding back, a second impact of blue kinetic force exploded out, knocking the feline away from the wall. Alex pressed the advantage and rocketed after the Apex. A flurry of blue as Alex landed blow after blow. There wasn’t as much damage as he had hoped though. The Lion recovered almost instantly. And Alex was unceremoniously swatted away. Instinct was the only thing that got Alex to bubble himself in time before a set of double claws could find purchase against his armored body. Didn’t look like Scarhide was playing either. [b][color=deepskyblue]“Shit. You really are having a temper tantrum aren’t you-“[/color][/b] Alex didn’t really have the time to quip to mostly himself however with just his barriers keeping him from being fully face to face with the oldest and biggest living Turbo Lion. 

[color=deepskyblue][b]“Oh fuck.”[/b][/color] 

Ok, so [i]maybe[/i] he didn't have this like the thought. He had no idea why he kept getting lost in his own head but it was really starting to piss him off now. What followed was best described as the most demented game of cat and ball of yarn ever. If said cat looked like it could use a main battle tank as a chew toy and the ball of yarn was a superhero trying not to scream. It was probably some form of Karmic force that was having Alex get rag dolled in one of his own bubbles. He however didn’t have that level of thought right now. Staying in the bubble, Alex let loose blasts and constructs of light in retaliation but was kept on the back foot from Scarhide's relentlessness.

A buzz of static hissed inside Aegis's helmet. A familiar voice cut through the noise. [color=#ffb561]"Paging Alexander Dalton! Is this working? Can ya hear me?"[/color] Ako, of the Black Iron Workshop.

Despite his current situation Alex’s bewilderment at the sudden call threw him off. [b][color=Deepskyblue]“Uh, hi?”[/color][/b] He continued to be tossed around in the meantime.

[color=#ffb561]"Howdy, Aegis. Pardon me for interrupting, but we need a bit of help at the Black Iron."[/color]

Alex was just a bit exasperated and a tad annoyed when he replied. [b][color=deepskyblue]“Ako, I’m a bit busy right now with the biggest of angry kitties! Can this wait?”[/color][/b]

[color=#ffb561]“Uhhhhhh, well, I hate to say it but no. There’s a woman here. She came to the ‘shop with Temujin, and a-a bad case of the dyins’.”[/color] Alex could almost hear her cringe from the smash and crash of combat, distorted and garbled through their comms. Her next words came out quieter, but no less urgent. [color=#ffb561]“...It’s Thresher venom.”[/color]

There was a pause on Alex’s end of the line. Not a quiet one given the roaring, thrashing and snarling. [b][color=deepskyblue]“Say no more. I’ll be there with help soon.”[/color][/b] He hung up the call and stopped the bubble he was in midair. Scarhide colliding with the suddenly stationary object. As much as people probably wanted a show, and he wanted to let off steam. People in trouble took priority. The bubble began to glow with great intensity as he charged himself up. In fact he felt like he had energy to spare. How about that.

Then without further warning, Alex exploded. 

The knock back was so fierce that the Turbo Lion was sent sprawling. Before it even had the chance to get up U shaped constructs slammed into the ground, pining its limbs, neck and tail. And then more came. And more. 

Alex stormed up to Scarhide. Right to the cats face. Before the beast could even let out a snarl a hardlight muzzle snapped into existence and clamped down tight. Alex then proceeded to grab the Apex’s ear and aggressively browbeat a local legend on how much of a bad kitty it was being and that he didn’t had time to play.

Catapulting back up to the wall, he was greeting by stunned science and slack jaws. Alex shrugged. [b][color=deepskyblue]“Something came up. If he gets uppity start shooting.”[/color][/b] He had bigger things to worry about . . . figuratively. [hr]A few minutes later and the bronze armored rogue landed in front of the Black Iron workshop. Carrying a rather flustered local doctor bridal style. [b][color=00aeef]"Got one of the Doc's here. Have a few other people I could grab and or phone if we need it."[/color][/b] Aegis walked with purpose inside before setting the doctor down and taking the scene in. His eyes glowed through the visor of his helmet brighter then normal. Hell he still had a sheen of blue light around him that he hadn't noticed yet. Whatever had happened during the . . . . well it wasn't much of a fight but whatever that was that got him all jazzed felt awesome. Alex paused to look at his favorite cyber ninja, who looked like he had pissed off every Ripper all at once given how mangled he was. 

[b][color=deepskyblue]“Wow. You look like shit.”[/color][/b]