[center]
[h2]Escape from the higher tower[/h2]
Blazermate, Celica, Edward, Juri, Sectonia and Zenkichi
Words: 3308 (+4)
[/center]

Silence, locally, fell, as the last of the NC troops assailing Celica and the seeker’s position fell the spell and shot. 

Edward was particularly glad it was over, because both of his new weapons had jammed during the firefight, much to his frustration. As such he’d had to fall back on portal punching, something which had left him much more exhausted than it had before. Now able to actively feel his physique deteriorating, the man wanted whatever of the two spirits he had absorbed that had caused that out of him as soon as possible, and decided it was time to cut their losses.

To that end he first started up a series of portal drops and catches to consolidate all of the ones that were not within Zenkichi’s arm’s reach into one place. As he did so, he sent the one scout drone that had survived the battle to check on the mercenary spirits he’d collected, only to find they had already faded. 

Which was rather frustrating.

[color=ea590c]”These will have to do in terms of salvage, and we best collect them before they fade”[/color] he said, before adding [color=ea590c]”and those”[/color] with reference to Celica’s broken machine and what little remained of the one she had been fighting.

[color=ea590c]”Sending it to the armory will be slow given how big it is, so it would be best if we move them. If we can”[/color] He said, before adding that [color=ea590c]”I can just drop them”[/color] as an option, though naturally that would not be pretty.

[color=0072bc]”Or we can crush them I guess. Gotta be quick regardless though!”[/color] Blazermate said, offering her suggestion before these guys respawned again. 

While the others were dealing with the ground combat of highertower, Sectonia was busy conjuring her maximum amount of Antlers to get them all ready for the inevitable respawn of everything that was fighting over here. They would help either delay or stall everything so their escape with their loot could be a lot easier.

[Color=BFBFBF]”We should probably get her out of that thing.”[/color] Zenkichi pointed out, gesturing over to the immobile Skell that Celica was still in. [Color=BFBFBF]”I get the feeling she's not standing there to look intimidating.”[/color] He added, jogging over to the Skell. A cursory inspection revealed that the machine was unresponsive, and he didn't hear anything from inside, so he started haphazardly climbing the machine. 

The giant knife made that a bit awkward, but after a short bit, Zenkichi found purchase on the Skell and managed to find an emergency release for the cockpit, engaging it to reveal Celica. To his eyes, she looked like an elf from some fantasy world, but the mech she was in screamed science fiction. Carefully taking a hold of the unconscious woman, he braced himself and hopped down from the Skell, knees protesting angrily upon his landing.

Blazermate, having been following zenkichi, started to heal up Celica. They needed to get out of the area with their loot soon, especially if they didn’t have a giant robot to fight what could be a respawning giant robot. 

[color=ea590c]”Looks like we’ll need to move it ourselves then”[/color] Edward said, gazing up at the massive machine and wondering how in the world they’d do that, before his scout’s eye happened to scan across the veritable army of big bugs she was preparing.

Which gave him an idea.

[color=ea590c]”Your highness!”[/color] he called over, before jerking a thumb to their oversized prize and asking if she’d [color=ea590c]”Care to lend us your many hands in transporting this?”[/color]

Sectonia was going to march her antler army to keep the mercenaries suppressed, but Edward called for her attention, seemingly having some sort of plan. As she descended, keeping her eyes more on the battlefield than the current task the group was dealing with. Once she managed to get within sight range of the Skell, and Edward motioned for this large thing to be carried, Sectonia called her antlers over to do the deed.

As they were of different strength and sizes, the Gold antlers did most of the work in picking up the heavier limbs. The red antlers picked up the lighter limbs, and the green and blue antlers started to pick the skell up from underneath and much like their namesake, were able to lift the mighty machine. 

[color=92278f]”I assume you have something you want to do with this thing and you're not calling my antlers for no reason?”[/color] Sectonia said, clearly waiting for what Edward needed them for.

[color=ea590c]”We’ll be adding it to our arsenal of course”[/color] Edward replied, the man having clambered up onto one of the containers to get a better vantage point, before opening a very large portal which would let them all, cargo in hand, get out of there [color=ea590c]”This way please, before some other fools try their luck”[/color]

[b][color=ec008c]”This chick and her busted ass robot better be worth it,”[/color][/b] Juri said, taking cover nearby, her twin pistols out. 

Sectonia rolled her shoulders and commanded her Antlers to carry the Skell in the portal, liking this new ability of Edwards. Although she asked where the portal went to know how she should use such an ability.

[color=ea590c]”As far from here as I could see when I opened it”[/color] the Dreadnaught replied, before stepping through, and out the other side into the dusty plains beyond, before almost immediately opening another portal, so he could take them a second step further, and fully clear of danger. In these two steps, he took them to a little hilltop, about a 15 minute walk away from the carnage they’d just been embroiled in.

[Color=BFBFBF]”Before we get too far, I left a vehicle in there with a turret defending it. Any chance we could pop back and try to grab it?”[/color] Zenkichi added, briefly describing where he'd parked the Prowler earlier. After a short trip via portal, they found the vehicle overturned, with a Psycho nearby nursing a badly scraped up leg. 

[Color=BFBFBF]”Eh, I'll take it.”[/color] He shrugged, gesturing to Edward. [Color=BFBFBF]”Let's get this thing out of here before this guy does any more damage to it.”[/color]

The Psycho in question turned, pointing an offended finger Zenkichi's way. “Alright wise guy, if you're such a good driver, let's see YOU make that jump!” 

In response, Zenkichi stared the Psycho down and shook his head. [Color=BFBFBF]”Noooo, I'm just gonna take it and leave. You can barely walk, dude. Just take the fact that you can still walk as a victory. I've seen enough people get hurt pulling crazy stunts to try it out here with a car I'm not familiar with. The crazy taxi game was one thing, but out here in the real world I like my neck unbroken.”[/color] 

The Pyscho blew a raspberry in response, standing up to further insult Zenkichi but immediately sitting back down with a pained hiss, clutching his leg.

[b][color=ec008c]”Those guys can talk?”[/color][/b] Juri asked, referring to the psycho. 

[color=ea590c]”Amicably resolved. Now, this way”[/color] Edward said from where he’d been waiting for things to resolve, before opening a pair of portals, one for him to step through, and one for Zenkichi to drive through.

On the other side of a few portals, the seekers were finally free from danger, and able to debrief the whole madcate escapade. Edward practically collapsed as he took a seat upon a conveniently placed rock, complaining that [color=ea590c]”That has taken… a lot out of me”[/color] 

[color=ea590c]”Still, it's not like we have nothing to show for it”[/color] he said as he extracted the NC spirits from a pouch, before saying [color=ea590c]”best we make use of them before they decay”[/color] 

To that end, he used a hand to summon Sectonia’s mimic hat from the armory, while pressing one of the infiltrator spirit to his head.

[hider=For Edward]Spirit consumed:
[b]NC Infiltrator[/b]
The host's color pallete is now Dark Gray (Primary), Ocean Blue (Secondary), Wetsuit Black (Tertiary), with grapefruit red eyes. This spirit confers the Skill [b]Infiltrator Specialization[/b] which grants proficiencies with future-era tech-based sidearms and sniper rifles, and increases the host's accuracy plus reload time when using such weapons. This spirit also confers the Weakness [b]Pack Light[/b], reducing the effective defense of the user's armor by 20%[/hider]

On the other side of the portal, in relative safety, Juri put both hands behind her head and strolled around a bit. Then she turned back to the group. [b][color=ec008c]”What the hell’s wrong with you, Edward? Never saw you get gassed before when we were at the Qliploth freakshow. ”[/color][/b] Juri asked. [b][color=ec008c]”I mean what’s wrong [i]beyond[/i] you being some kinda fucked up hideous monster now.”[/color][/b] She clarified helpfully.

Zenkichi, despite himself, chuckled a little at Juri's crass wording. [Color=BFBFBF]”I mean, just how many Spirits have you fused with today alone? I've fused with three since I met these guys, and two of those were in the Spirit Chamber itself.”[/color] 

It was about this time that Celica finally woke up. She didn't have too much that needed healing, it seemed the worst she got was the damage to her machine had caused some sort of backflow of nasty fumes that filled the cockpit and had knocked her out. Sitting up, she rubbed her head, and slowly blinked her eyes open to look around at this, incredibly odd group that had come to her rescue. Though of course, her first realization was that she was no longer in her Skell, and in fact, she had no idea where she was at all! Though still a bit lightheaded from inhaling too much mechanical fumes and likely even smoke as well, all she could manage was a short [color=82ca9d]"Are you... the extraction team..?"[/color]

[color=0072bc]”You could say that yeah.”[/color] Blazermate said, being the one to look over Celica as the group medic. Well, seeing as they were taking this one with them, might as well not deal with that whole Galeeming thing, plus it’d get her healed up way faster and on her feet. So with a slight flourish, Blazermate pulled out and threw a close range friend heart at Celica.

[b][color=ec008c]”We’re your guardian freakin’ angels, sweetheart.”[/color][/b] Juri crowed ‘sweetly’. 

[color=0072bc]”We’ve got one, and I think I fused with one at some point. I mean, thats where the holy bright powers come from right?”[/color] Blazermate said, throwing a divine star and having it return to her.

[b][color=ec008c]”Don’t gotta lotta robo-brains rattling around in that tin head of yours, do ya?”[/color][/b] Juri said. 

Zenkichi rolled his eyes at the banter and addressed Celica directly. [Color=BFBFBF]”Take a minute to sort everything out in your head. I remember when they first took me out of it, at swordpoint no less. The good news is, you're safe with us. The bad news is…well, just about everything else. Welcome to what we call the World of Light.”[/color] He gave the pilot a small, sad smile and gestured around. [Color=BFBFBF]”We have a ship we can take you and your mech to for repairs as well.”[/color] He added, pointing to Celica's badly-damaged Skell that had been set aside in a somewhat safe position thanks to Sectonia's Antlers.

Celica got a little defensive at the motion made toward her, but then there was only silence. A lot was going on in that head of hers... a lot of gears turning that may as well have been covered in a fine layer of dust at this point. She hadn't thought about things in what felt like a long time. She remembered where she came from... NLA, and more importantly, the planet it was on, Mira. This was... definitely not Mira. The place somewhat resembled Oblivia... but so many things were off. And as her memories started to come back to her, all the things that had happened, the very sudden realization that NLA might not even exist anymore struck her, as with a sudden gasp she sat up straight, trying to force herself to stand. 

[color=a2d39c]"Have... have you seen a large creature, nearly as large as my machine? He has, leathery, brownish, tannish skin and fur, metal cuffs on his wrists... he is very imposing but absolutely no threat, his name is Rock, and, and..."[/color] Her head was already hurting from the sudden rush of memories, forcing herself up and speaking so quickly, and it was a wonder she didn't knock herself out in her panic.

[color=ea590c]”Not much point of worrying about them”[/color] Edward told her cynically, before explaining that [color=ea590c]”You saw those soldiers who kept coming back to life, but with no memories of what killed them the first time? We’re all like that, in the end, it just takes a bit longer most of the time. So this ‘Rock’ you remember isn’t in any real danger, because if they die, they’ll be back soon enough”[/color] 

[color=0072bc]”So they could be wandering anywhere. Like, anywhere. You won't believe where we found Sectonia here. Someone as pretty as her was in the middle of some zombie land! She is like, the furthest thing from a zombie! So yeah, we’re going all around the world doing things. Maybe you’ll find them while saving the world and fixing that whole cycle thing?”[/color] Blazermate said, being way too optimistic but definitely offsetting Edward’s cynics.

[color=92278f]”We have a couple people looking for people, so you wouldn’t be the first. And as we gain more dominion over the world, we get much stronger. If you're looking for that, we have people like that as well”[/color] Sectonia said, getting back from directing her Antlers.

Juri decided to pile on. [b][color=ec008c]”Big guy, leathery brown…”[/color][/b] She tapped her gun against her chin as if in thought. [b][color=ec008c]”Ooh, my bad. I mighta turned him into shoes.”[/color][/b] She lied, of course. 

Zenkichi sighed, rubbing his forehead with the palm of his hand. [Color=BFBFBF]”Jeeze, guys, give her a little room to think.”[/color] He butt in, gesturing back to Celica. [Color=BFBFBF]”This is hard enough as it is.”[/color]

Celica had to take a long, deep breath, reaching up to rub her head, shaking it a bit. [color=a2d39c]"Yes, this is, a lot to take in... I'm going to need time to think through everything. At least what you have told me so far."[/color] She looked around for a moment, adding [color=a2d39c]"You said you have a ship? How are we getting there? Surely you don't intend on carrying my Skell the whole way there... wherever it is..."[/color] There sure was a lot of nothing around, and she hadn't been awake for the whole portal thing.

[color=ea590c]”This magic will get us there”[/color] Edward replied simply, flicking a hand out and helpfully filling her in on what she had missed, before closing it again, and adding that [color=ea590c]”and other magic will get the salvage there”[/color] 

With that said, he pushed himself up, and began to set up various armory recall rituals, magic circles forming on the ground beneath both the Skell and the various items acquired from the spirits. A loading bar like ring on these circles then began to fill, though the sheer size of the Skell ment that its recall would be taking a bit longer than the gear.

While Edward worked on that, Zenkichi pulled out the NC soldier spirits he'd gathered after the giant fight, crushing the bunch of them. 

[center][hider=For Zenkichi]Items obtained:
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/mpjJIV8.png]Mag-Cutter[/url][/b]
Standard issue New Conglomerate combat knife. Simple but practical, of futuristic alloy construction. Thanks to its powerful electromagnet, it ignores 25% of the physical defense of enemy armor when striking
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/vsPYqSA.png]LA3 Desperado[/url][/b] x2
Advanced sidearm of the New Conglomerate. Able to fire semi-auto or in two-round bursts. 500 RPM and 350m/s muzzle velocity. 1.55s reload time in professional hands, 1.88s reload time otherwise. 14-round magazine, 84-round ammo pool. They pack a punch but are ineffective at long range
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/WVvulpe.png]Shrike[/url][/b]
Standard New Conglomerate rocket launcher, dealing moderate damage per shot with a good velocity and high reload speed. While it may not have the ranged punch of a lock-on launcher, or the raw upfront damage output of other launchers, it is capable of dealing amongst the highest damage over a longer period of time thanks to its generous reload speed. Single-shot, with a 12-shot ammo pool
[b]Armor Plates[/b] x3
These can be inserted into damaged armor to restore their effectiveness
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/JHI9OVa.png]Twenty Bucks[/url][/b]
It might look like a lot, but ultimately this mound of cash is worth only 2,000 zenny. Inflation is a bitch
[/hider][/center]

At the tail end of this, Edward approached and offered him his own supply to also be crushed while using the symbol of avarice (as it would not fit on his currently oversized head). Zenkichi, of course, obliged.

[center][hider=For Edward]Items obtained:
[b]Frag Grenade[/b] x2
Standard-issue fragmentation grenade, dealing concussive plus severe piercing damage to everything in the vicinity with explosion-propelled shrapnel
[b]Smoke Grenade[/b]
A grenade capable of bathing an area in acrid, vision-obscuring smoke for up to a minute if wind allows
[b]Long Gun Pickup[/b]
An ammo pickup capable of replenishing ammunition for rifles, shotguns, etc
[b]Drifter Jump Jets[/b]
A futuristic jetpack that permits a relatively slow upward thrust. Angling in any direction while ascending will sacrifice the rest of the height for a drifting slow fall in the desired direction, making it good for covering horizontal ground. It can be used for 15 seconds with a full tank and will slowly refuel itself when not in use
[b]Munitions Pouch[/b]
A well-designed mini-satchel designed to be worn into battle. Provides additional ammo storage in an easily accessible fashion, decreasing reload time slightly
[b]Typhoon Rocklets[/b] x3
Miniature missiles, purple in color, designed for use in a rocklet launcher but usable in other launchers that use undersized payloads (they can also just be thrown). They are heavy and travel less distance than similar munitions, but have a highly destructive anti-armor effect[/hider][/center]

With all the materials handled, and stashed in the armory, all that there was left to do was head on out, and so with a [color=ea590c]”Follow me”[/color] and a wave over his shoulder, Edward stepped through a portal, and began the hopping traversal back towards Hammerhead. With so many people, it would be slower than the trip over with only two due to coordination issues. With his body feeling weaker and weaker by the moment, this was both blessing and curse for the Dreadnaught, as it was a pace he could both manage, and yet also one that was drawing out how long he would have to endure his condition.

But endure he must.