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

[color=mediumslateblue]"Damn, space aliens are freaky. It is customary on this planet to at least buy dinner first, you know?"[/color]

[color=dimgray]— Ninochka Nikiforov, Dark Winter[/color]

[hider=Nina][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5656672]Ninochka Nikiforov[/url]
Max MP: 70 Current MP: 62 - 10 = 52
Casting: Self [0] Flight [4] Routine+Extend [2] Storm [4]

Gear: Goggles (Illusion Begone) Monster Tracker (Inactive) Food (4) Kevlar (4) Pistol (4) Medical Supplies (4)

Leveraging: N/A[/hider][/center]

What Nina liked to imagine could have been a totally cool and excellent chase sequence came to an abrupt end when the CRESCENDO reassumed its normal form: a massive ball and chain. The sudden and unexpected weight tied to the end of her formerly-a-jump-rope brought her down to one knee—but she would not remain there for long, as the realization put a very literal spring in her step. Alice had returned from alien Wonderland, and what a souvenir she had brought back with her! [color=mediumslateblue]"We are back in business!"[/color] She grinned, lifting the ball and chain with frightening ease.

There were other quick observations to make, too. The space pirate could talk, which was disappointing for reasons Nina couldn't quite nail down; his name was Tim (also disappointing) and Dan didn't seem to be fully on board with whatever he was doing (but who could tell if that would last?) Tim was also the perverted kind of alien who wanted to stick his [i]scientific curiosity[/i] in all kinds of places, and she was [i]so[/i] not down with that. Maverick Alternative could pay her to take a few bullets, but alien probes were off the table. Regular probes too, for that matter. Hopefully that stipulation was in her contract somewhere.

Speaking of taking bullets, it was about that time. [color=mediumslateblue]"Time to be drawing fire now,"[/color] she remarked casually, casting a melody on herself as she hid behind some trees. [color=mediumslateblue]"Accepting any prayers for good luck, friend!"[/color] she called to Nukkelina cheerily. Once her melody was completed, she took to flight, intending to shoot right for the turret that was aiming at her and Dolly. Once she'd cleared the trees, winds whirled around her, as did her ball and chain—slowly at first, but by the time she was closer to her target, she'd have built up terrifying speed. Clearly, she intended to smash that thing in one blow.

Seeing a bright green light approaching in her periphery, Nina quickly veered left, but the projectile was gratefully aimed at the turret rather than her. Perhaps someone more cautious than Nina would have considered whether or not the truce between Maverick and GEMINI would hold once their magic returned before exposing her flank, but Nina was not that person. (For the time being, the truce seemed to hold for the one who acted like she was in charge, so!) Hopefully the rest of the beach was behaving themselves, and trying not to get slimed too badly. Dan, the one who seemed most likely to flip sides, was pretty far away too, so Nina's attention was once again reserved for the source of the offensive substance, now.