[center][h2][color=#b3ccff]Esben Mathiassen[/color][/h2][/center] [hr] Esben rolled deftly as the Kirins fell on the deck of the destroyer, one quick tumble over his shoulders bringing him back on his feet without issue. If travelling with the group had taught him one thing, it was that he could never hope for any plan to go anywhere close to how it was intended—it was nice when they did, despite complications, but sometimes the complications were too much. Like getting discovered the second they made it into Mizutani Tane's mansion— —Or being knocked from the sky. He ignored Valon's monologue, making a quick headcount of those that had landed on the deck. Making sure nobody had gone too wide or too short, that none of their party had to suffer the fate of an undignified tumble through the canopy to their death. Luckily, they always managed to avoid [i]that[/i] particular sort of misfortune. [color=#b3ccff]"Alright, Eos, Selene, time to come out,"[/color] he muttered, focusing on the aether-infused runes they'd written into his notebook to draw the pair back out. They winked into existence to either side of him as the traitor dragoon challenged them. [b][color=#008b8b]"Why do you always—"[/color][/b] [color=#b3ccff]"No time for that!"[/color] Esben pointed at one of the aetherskimmers. [color=#b3ccff]"I'm taking that, you two are helping me get there. Got it? Let's go!"[/color] [b][color=#cc44f5]"Wait, [i]what—"[/i][/color][/b] While they may have been happy to see him still alive after having been so suddenly disincorporated during the fight with Famfrit, Esben couldn't afford to give them any time to catch up with what was going on. Miina and Éliane turned to Valon, a shot ringing out; Rudolf's gravity materia came into play, putting all the false dragoons under greater strain just to stay airborne, and with the fairies clinging to his cloak, Esben could feel their power combined to try and keep him as strong and fast as possible despite having barely had a [i]nap[/i] before the fight. He sprinted past the ring of troops surrounding them as they tried to keep up with all the sudden distractions, leaping onto one of the small craft. The Valheimer pilot looked up with wide eyes, slow to react to the grey blur that had suddenly boarded him, and Esben ripped him out of the seat and pushed him down to the deck. He fell into the seat afterwards, both hands on the controls, one finger on the trigger for the cannon on the prow, and yanked it to the side. The craft jerkily turned, moving like an ungainly beast under the unskilled hands of its newest pilot—but he could get [i]enough[/i] of a feel for it to keep it from rolling over and dumping him back out, or slamming into the deck all on its own. And of course, never one to give up whatever element of surprise he had, he pulled the trigger the instant the gun was no longer pointed at the Kirins, raking the Valheimer troops, false dragoons, and other skimmers with cannon fire. [color=#b3ccff]"Back on the rest, you two,"[/color] he commanded the fairies. [color=#b3ccff]"I think I've got things from here, but if I crash, make sure to come pull me out, [i]ja?"[/i][/color] Eos and Selene did not appear to be particularly impressed by his joke, but all the same, they took advantage of him laying down some suppressing fire to fly back to the rest of the Kirins so that the entire team could take advantage of their abilities.