[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/40b268e9-9477-4d81-97d6-81ce4b87c2d3.png[/img] [color=tomato]"I'm gunna push for equal rights for all!”[/color] [color=888888]— Mika Fang[/color][/center] [hider=Mika Stat Block] [center] 16 | Female | Gemini | Mad World (lesser) Nails | Hands | Arcane | Cat Scratch Fever Eye of the Tiger | Survivor Spirit Animals | Nature | ANIMAL [Poison, Transform], MAD WORLD DAMAGE: C | SPEED: B | SENTINEL: E | 500 PHYSICAL: D | ARCANE: B | CHAOS: C | 500 [/center] [/hider] Ashley fired her melody at the sentient TV. As soon as the projectile left her wand, a blast door slammed shut right in front of XVIII Morning Dragon Fruit. The scanning bolt struck the door and gave a readout of the metal. It appeared to be extremely resistant to all forms of attack, being that it was some arcane infused steel. It was extra resistant to arcane effects, but the powers of chaos might have been able to damage it more easily. Otherwise, it didn’t have any other special abilities, [b]”Yahtzee! ”[/b] The TV screeched. [b]”What a surprise! I wasn’t lying. Are you hard of hearing or just high on booger sugar? Does it even materrrrrrrrrr…”[/b] The voice seemed to be moving up the wall into the ceiling. [b]”It’s okay, once I’ve broken you of that Gemini brainwashing, I’ll have you scrubbing toilets and tucking guests in! But I’m definitely going to cut your pay for this. Hope you don’t have any outstanding mortgages.”[/b] And then, silence. Binky turned around and ran back for the door. [color=baddab]”Come on.”[/color] She waved Marrie off to the side. [color=baddab]”We need to go back up and catch them before it escapes!”[/color] [b]”Honey?”[/b] The TV’s voice seemed to come from the room itself. [b]”I’m not going [i]anywhere[/i]...”[/b] Several more lights flipped on. It was now possible to see some markings in the ceiling. With a click, two platforms slid apart, and an intense red light shined down into the room. The hum of an electric motor accompanied a trap door sliding open. It just took a few seconds for it to open up all the way, revealing a massive hole into the floor above. The motors went quiet, and the room was still. But it only stayed that way for a moment. Something passed in front of the red lamp, and shortly afterwards, it fell into room 1408. When it landed, it shook the floor, and everyone lost their footing. Mika managed to get her footing first. She braced herself against a pillar and looked up at what had fallen before them. It was the mecha that had retreated earlier. [color=tomato]"Aria?”[/color] [b]”Area?”[/b] Morning Dragon Fruit incorrectly called back. [b]”Yes this takes up a lot of area. We call it space though. Anyway, I know Orion tried to shoot me, but I thought it was cool how they whipped out that cool one liner. I’m gunna pass the mic over to Time Keeper and let him give you a few choice words.”[/b] After a moment, a voice no one wanted to hear ever again spoke up. [color=goldenrod]”You know, I barely see a reason to humor this act. I already know you’re all dead set in your… [i]personal[/i] goals. Practically chomping at the bits at the chance to kill me.”[/color] His voice sounded cold, almost mechanical. [color=goldenrod]”But I should be thanking you, really. You’ve gathered nearly every loose thread I hadn’t the chance to wrap up.”[/color] Nearly. He knew things were going to escalate, as per usual, reinforcements were to be expected. The mecha lifted one of its arms, igniting a burst of fire from it. [color=goldenrod]”I’m going to have fun breaking you.”[/color] Mika stared up at the mech, body shaking in anger. With a flick of her wrists, her claws popped all the way out, but she stood her ground. The TV grunted out a barely contained laugh. [b]”Wew! Now that’s cold! And guys, I haven’t even done anything to him. Are you sure he used to be on your side? And speaking of cold, someone else has something she wants to say to you.”[/b] [color=6ecff6][b]“Sup.”[/b][/color] It was Klava. [color=6ecff6][b]“I’m really just here for the paycheck and to help an old friend.”[/b][/color] The other arm came up, and a post hole digging drill flipped out of the arm and started spinning. [color=6ecff6][b]“But I feel like this’ll put a smile on both of our faces.”[/b][/color] [b]”Eh… I think we can start now.”[/b] The mech surged forward. Rather than the clunky movement it had displayed before, it hopped forward and froze the ground beneath its feet. Thrusters opened up in the back of it as it barreled forwards. Mika and Raven rushed to either flank, awaiting the word of their commander. Marrie’s magical site was able to tell that the mech was able to enhance and take on an esper’s abilities. Klava’s magical frost was freezing the ground beneath the giant mech so that it could slide around like she used to do. It did not look like Finn was using any magic at this time. The room they were in, while magically enchanted, was only done so for protection. While impossibly large, the only explanation was that the upper half of the hotel was made with larger rooms in mind. There was a distinct lack of rooms on this floor, and perhaps all of them were equally big, if not as well armored. Then, from outside the room, Marrie could see every door in the hallway open at the same time. Nothing came out yet, but it seemed that Dragon Fruit would be getting reinforcements shortly. The camera systems showed this as well, with construction workers making their way up flights of stairs to reach the top. It looked like the rest of the threats were still engaged in combat on the first floor. Still no sign of the Bates. Where were they? [hr] The Bastion wasn’t such a secure location with everyone laying siege to the Golden Trove. At the end of the day, the Bastion was just a large tunnel system, and without Billy there to maintain it, anyone could just walk in and slay as many monsters as they wanted. It was far safer to have everyone join the siege, even if it seemed more dangerous. Of course the weak and inexperienced were expected to stay back. Amanda was only here to sit on the sidelines so that nothing happened to her. That was the idea anyway. But Maverick Alternative didn’t have babysitters, and they were down a lieutenant. Nobody was exclusively required to look after Amanda, and Billy’s order for her to remain out of harm's way was given to her directly. Ciri was not privy to it, and nobody nearby was going to correct her. Billy had already sped ahead, and the other bikes were forming up behind him. After Amanda looked at her for a moment, she nodded. [b]”I remember you.”[/b] She gave a single nod. [b]”You’re the one that helped get me out of there.”[/b] She pulled herself up on the dark horse. With the two sitting so close it became evident, yet again, that the pink oni girl was the shortest thing in Maverick. But Amanda didn’t say anything. Ciri had kept her word thus far, and this time they were headed towards the danger instead of away from it. … … … There might not have been a fancy banner for Ciri’s section, but she was still determined to make short work of the scattered weretigers. She did this by scattering insects all over them. [b]”Gah! It itches!”[/b] [b]”It burns!”[/b] [b]”This was a new suit!”[/b] They didn’t even get a single shot off before the motorcycles rolled by. Two of them managed to get back inside before they were peppered by shots from Luna’s wand. Stacy Stitches crashed her motorcycle into a hedge and threw herself into the hedge beside it. When she emerged, she was brandishing her chainsaw and running her way up the steps. The other Mavericks were quick to dismount and follow her inside. Billy got out of his cadillac. Trixy hopped off of her motorcycle. She was about to rush inside when she turned to look at Ciri. A mischievous smile crossed her face and she waited for duo on horseback before joining everyone else inside. The interior was about as lavish as one would expect. The center of the room had a fountain made of solid gold, and just beyond that was a solid gold koi fish. The rest of the room had a distinctly chinese motif that felt more authentic than the tourist traps in chinatown. One of the retreating weretigers stumbled, and Billy threw a car rotor at it’s head. Normally such mundane devices wouldn’t harm them, but being a mechromancer, Billy could create arcane car parts out of thin air. It bisected the tiger’s head, and he collapsed. Further ahead, the enemy had assembled. Big tony stood at the front, this time dressed in a fancy business suit. He was flanked by the nuns, and stared at Billy as he entered. … [b]”The big guy doesn’t like to talk.”[/b] Lenore twirled her sword before placing it on her shoulder. [b]”But none of you have to die today. You can back off and we’ll go upstairs and finish off Gemini for good. That’ll give you guys free reign of the city, right?”[/b] [hr] [center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/5cdd0c35-6c1b-4e5d-8fe9-970574e18f41.png[/img] [color=77BB99]"That’s not how this works you little shit.”[/color] [color=888888]— Bookman[/color][/center] Again, Bookman remained stoic as Himiko went on. He did not seem to react to anything she said. Not from the implication that the hand feared her to her clarifications about her relationship with Cerberus. His hand remained extended as she spoke of Oros the mad. It wasn’t until she suggested a clause and extended her own hand that the goat man moved. His eyes looked down at her hand, and he slowly lowered his. [color=77BB99]"I will certainly keep all that in mind should we make future negotiations.”[/color] He said with a slight bow of his head. [color=77BB99]"It is not our goal to do you harm, so I would not have any issue including your clause. Though the way you worded it makes me wonder if you understand the conditions of the initial contract. We do not wish for you to merely avoid scrying us with your Endless Eclipse. You will need to refrain from using [i]all[/i] of your magic to harm [i]any[/i] of our main leaders. If we wished to stop you from using it to harm us, we could ensure that by merely keeping it out of your hands. I’m sure you understand, but I must clarify. My goal is not to deceive.”[/color] The contents of the contract changed to reflect Himiko’s desired changes without conflicting with the idea of the contract. Then the devil raised his hand again, fingertips just out of reach.