[center] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019da7cb-5f27-73ae-a0f4-7e0c128203a8.webp[/img] [color=ff7f50]"I know the dragons and puppets are horny (they have horns on their heads) but a smoke screen is not a privacy screen!"[/color] [color=888888]— Bionca Herrmann, Knight of Tonight[/color] [hider=Bionca] [color=ff7f50]"Eject Button -1 btw."[/color] [/hider] [/center] In such a frantic situation, most anyone would be forgiven for acting a little frantic. But Rika decided to keep her cool. Even if she couldn’t see anything, she decided to wait for an opportunity. Once Bionca made her move, she could rely on strength she doubted the other esper had or was prepared for. Breathe in, breathe out, or maybe don’t. Rika wasn’t sure if the smoke was an agitant or even a carcinogenic. Though something else happened while she waited. One of Nukkelina’s puppets had come to her aid. Not that she was able to see its approach. Not only that, but it couldn’t see where Rika was. After it used its sword to scrape the gunk off of its shield, it ventured into to smoke and tried to place itself between chef and would-be cuisine. Though Bionca was the only one with eyes in this space, which was something she made use of immediately. She retrieved her knife and shoved it over the doll’s shield. It found its way into its neck, which caused the entire thing to collapse as if its strings had been cut. Puppets of this nature were strong, and even comparable to espers, but an esper’s tools and finer abilities would always give them an edge against simple conjured opponents. That was doubly true when they had such a clear advantage. But Rika knew where her opponent was now, and so she led with a shoulder charge. What she didn’t know was that Bionca had conjured a wolf pup to assist with subduing her. While it was just as blind as Rika was, it served as a tripping hazard for Rika’s clumsy escape. Bionca shuffled off to the side while she fell, and brought her frying pan over her head to deliver an unseen blow to the dragon’s head. But she only hit sand. Some new feature of Rika’s form had spirited her out of the way of danger, and deposited her outside the smoke cloud. She was standing upright, and aside from swearing she had been struck in the back of the head with a frying pan, she was alright. Mission successful? The smoke had dissipated by this point, revealing a little wolf pup with an apron. Unlike its master, the puppy seemed happy to be there. It’s tail wagged in circles and the apron had a paw print embroidered on it. [color=ff7f50]"Hmph."[/color] Bionca scooped up the puppy. [color=ff7f50]"If you don’t want me to go after you, then you can leave the premises. Otherwise…"[/color] Bionca didn’t finish speaking. She walked backwards towards a bush while her arm swirled with magic, and a drumstick appeared in it. [center] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019da7cc-5ed7-72bb-9463-d2dfe74dbd05.webp[/img] [color=a470fa]"If you say so, Dark Winter. Just try to live through this."[/color] [color=888888]— Iris Silk[/color] [hider=Iris] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5656223]Iris Silk[/url] Max MP: 60 Current MP: 52 - 8 = 44 Casting: [self] + [Obfuscate B] (Turning invisible for stealth stuff) 4 + [intangible B] (Moving through walls) 4 = 8 Gear: Goggles (Illusion Begone, then Witchsight) Food (6) Grenade (6) Smoke Bomb (6) Leveraging: Extra Appendages 10 [/hider][/center] [color=a470fa]"Tch!"[/color] With all the shooting, and largely because of Tim’s smog, Iris hadn’t been able to close the distance between them. Things were made more complicated by the ship’s attempt to lift off, only to be stopped by Book Kidd’s ritual. While it kept the ship from entering the sky, it did make things unstable. The spacecraft rocked side to side, and Iris was only able to steady herself by planting her extra legs on the ground. She prepared her sword as the last remaining door turret prepared to aim at her, but Jack was on the way. Sure enough, a few good strikes was all it took to free her body of most of the material. The rest would come off in a hot show. It didn’t take her long to run for the ramp where her target waited. Jack leapt up the ramp and cleaved the thing in half. The creature pretty much exploded, throwing gel-like gunk in all directions, bombarding herself and Iris with the strange substance. The ship itself was far more robust, but did dent and crack from the effects of her melody. [center] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019da7cc-03c2-70ee-8932-299507f09069.webp[/img] [color=ff6347]"Disregard that my banner still features my beach outfit."[/color] [color=888888]— Mika Fang, Cerberus[/color] [hider=Mika] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5656223]Mika Fang[/url] Max MP: 30 Current MP: 24 Casting: N/A Gear: Taser (3 shots) Mastermind (40 credits - 10 for 3 smoke bombs) Smoke Bombs (2) Leveraging: N/A [/hider][/center] Between careful covering fire and Mika’s own efforts, the last giant turret finally fell. It separated from the ship and rolled off the side of the ship and dissolved in the salty waters below. Mika cast a glance at the Mavericks at the other end of the ship, but said nothing to them. She’d cooperate with them for now, but they were still allies to monsters. After recovering and freeing herself, Nina wedged her weapon in the doorway before it could fully close. Then Nina, both puppets, and her slipped inside the ship where they were joined by the others. [color=ff6347]"Why do you have slime on your face?"[/color] Jack was covered in it, but Iris had only been hit in the face by the slime explosion. It did look like she had tried to kiss the turret. After wiping the chunks off of her face, Iris took stock of Jack. [color=a470fa]"Ah, thank you."[/color] She wiped her hand off on her shoulder before placing her hands on her katana again. [color=a470fa]"We should refrain from damaging the ship too much."[/color] She addressed everyone [color=a470fa]"It would be a shame if it were to explode while our friends are trapped inside."[/color] No sooner did Iris mention this did both girls become aware of a knocking sound. It got louder and louder and louder until… The side of the ship burst open, and an esper with a planetary design flew out. Black cubes that made up the ship’s exterior were blown out of place, yet perfectly intact. Though she wasn’t alone. Several more of those smaller mobile slime turrets were pursuing her. [color=a470fa]"Well that’s going to make things more complicated."[/color] With a snort, she raised her voice. [color=a470fa]"Mavericks, continue chasing Tim! I’m going to seek out the other espers!"[/color] Her legs reached over her head. They all converged at one point before spreading open, creating a black net over her body. [color=a470fa]"Continue to work with the others."[/color] And then she stretched it over her body and vanished from sight. Not only had she turned invisible, but she had passed through a wall. Something that Jack was able to see with her glasses. Ahead, there were far more dangers to tackle. The room before them was filled with more of the slimy bastards, and Tim disappeared around a corner with Marrie. Though these once seemed to be equipped differently. While they had black cubes floating inside them, they treated them more like melee weapons. They wielded cubic shields and had cuboid clubs to beat back the intruders with. Though if the outer turrets were anything to go by, then these things likely had other abilities as well. [center] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019dad5c-bb82-776c-bbcc-1e64d1440bf9.webp[/img] [color=8c5673]"Found a bug."[/color] [color=888888]— Alice Mason[/color] [hider=Alice's Stats] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5657563]Alice Mason[/url] Max MP: 80 Current MP: 62 - 4 = 58 Casting: Self (0), Intangible B (4) = 4 Gear: Goggles (Inactive), Ka-Bar Knife (5/5 Durability) Leveraging: N/A [/hider] [/center] [color=8c5673]"Careful not to get shot, I can only heal so many of you!"[/color] Alice shouted out once she dropped in from the portal after Ashley. The hall was going to get far too crowded with so many of them occupied with dispatching the slime turrets, and Iris had decided to focus on jailbreaking, guess she could try and stall the ship from the inside? With a huff, Alice sprinted off ahead. As much as this was irritating, she couldn’t afford to let up yet. While there was a room ahead filled with danger, Alice did notice that there was a sealed door to her right. Though it was locked shut and she had no idea how to open it. Without using force, that is. Luckily, that wouldn’t be necessary. She simply turned herself intangible and stepped through the door itself. Abandoning everyone else, or at least not caring if they could follow, Alice sunk through the door like it wasn’t even there. She found herself in a very large, very orange room. There were various tools and props made out of cubes, but only the aliens knew what any of them were made for. But for its size, there wasn’t very much in it. There were no slimes to speak of, and most of the instruments seemed to be located in the center of the room around an altar. A warm, orange light lit the space, but left the corners dark. There didn’t seem to be anything important in this room, but with some searching she might find some hidden passage or another door along the shaded walls. This ship had certainly been designed around being as difficult to navigate as possible. At least to creatures that needed light to see. The walls were always so dark. But before Alice could begin her search, someone stepped out of the darkness. Someone who’s voice she recognized. It was feminine, haughty, and belonged to a brat or a gremlin. [color=e3bbc6]"Fancy seeing you here."[/color] Under the orange light, the girl’s purple and white dress looked violet and pink. Two butterflies floated above her shoulders, and the fingers of her gloved hands were pressed together. [color=e3bbc6]"I would have thought you’d have stuck with the others and maybe endear them to you, but this makes sense. If it’s not your favorite failure, it’s not worth wasting your time protecting, is it?"[/color] Alice scoffed. [color=8c5673]"The others will be fine, they can go without being babysat for a moment."[/color] She would’ve leaned against the wall, but, well, melody. [color=8c5673]"I’m more wondering why you’re hiding in the middle of this floating scrapheap, of all places."[/color] Sharr pouted. It wasn’t genuine. [color=e3bbc6]"Well, unlike you, I was trying to enjoy a nice dream. So my powers have been greatly suppressed. And, well, Dan’s arrival suppressed them even further."[/color] Her smile returned. [color=e3bbc6]"So I got ‘captured’ knowing that simpleton would screw things up somehow. And now that it’s come to pass, I’m back to my old self of a fashion. Well, until he initially returned."[/color] She giggled into her hand. [color=e3bbc6]"Now I can start to put my plan into effect. I think calling this a setback is too strong a word. It is a detour though. Yes, once we’re done with this detour I’ll be able to go through with the next part of my plan."[/color] With a sigh, she looked up. [color=e3bbc6]"You know I only joke when I say Finn is a failure. That’s a nickname your loving friend gave him, right? He’s actually been very useful to me, and I’m sure he’ll continue to be useful moving forward."[/color] [color=8c5673]"She’s a petty bitch, and that pettiness is gonna end up biting her in the ass inevitably. Wasn’t exactly happy with me coming here to do my job."[/color] Alice rested her rifle over her shoulders. [color=8c5673]"She sends her regards, by the way."[/color] She idly walked around the room. Night vision wasn’t going to help much with looking, was it? [color=8c5673]"And since you felt the need to mention the kid; you don’t seem too worried about him being with Oros as we speak, for whatever she or Aigorost plans with him."[/color] Alice glanced back at Sharr. [color=e3bbc6]"I suppose Oros the Mad will try to swing him over to her side."[/color] She tapped her chin with her gloved finger. [color=e3bbc6]"But the ball is very much in his court on that. She can tempt him. She can whisper things into his ear, but she has no real power over him. Short of bribery or blackmail, everything he does from this point forward is his own choice. He may be thirteen, but being a man takes responsibility for his actions. In that respect, I’d say he’s more mature than most, wouldn’t you?"[/color] The question was rhetorical, as Sharr pretended to look at her wrist. [color=e3bbc6]"Hmmm, so how invested are you in Ashley?"[/color] [color=8c5673]"Doc’s little pride and joy, how could I not be?"[/color] Alice wryly smiled. [color=8c5673]"You were last trying to take her grimoire, which spurred her into causing [i]all of this[/i] in the first place. I’m to assume said grimoire wasn’t one of your making, or at the very least, Doc had a hand in its creation specifically, which is why you need the little slice of discord back before it becomes something worse. Is any of that correct?"[/color] She asked. [color=e3bbc6]"No dream should include intrusive, outside thoughts."[/color] With a snap of her fingers, a book appeared in her hand. It was just as extensively decorated as her dress, and featured a butterfly embroidered on the cover. [color=e3bbc6]"There are many things that I wish to jettison from this dream. One of which is Ashley’s grimoire, but there are other things as well. Such as you."[/color] She flipped open the book. Each page contained a specimen of butterfly, which flew off the page as it was flipped to. This seemed to cause a chain reaction, as the pages flipped on their own, faster and faster, releasing more butterflies into the air. [color=e3bbc6]"I’m actually interested in taking this new grimoire for a test drive. Maybe you’d like to be a training dummy for me?"[/color] Alice quickly aimed her other gun at the growing swarm. [color=8c5673]"Not as if I have a choice here?!"[/color] [color=e3bbc6]"You didn’t get my permission to come, you don’t get the option to refuse."[/color] [center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019da7cb-a89b-72d1-9319-2f3dab5a65a1.webp[/img] [color=a4f4f9]"Shark week 8 already?! Make it stop!"[/color] [color=888888]— Dan Daggernose[/color][/center] [color=a4f4f9]"You want me to help you? You trust me to do that?"[/color] Dan was rather puzzled by the request, but some of his earlier confidence seemed to return. [color=a4f4f9]"You’re right! We need to rescue Marrie! And convince Tim that this isn’t the way to go about doing things."[/color] His hands settled on his hips. [color=a4f4f9]"I can deactivate the exterior turrets with my- oh…"[/color] They had all been destroyed, of course. He rubbed the back of his head when he realized this could have all been made much easier. [color=a4f4f9]"Uh, well it probably wouldn’t have worked anyway. The causality generator is responsible for handling commands from off the ship, and that’s down."[/color] He sighed. [color=a4f4f9]"But if I get on board, I should be able to override some of the ship’s systems."[/color] He suddenly looked much less confident. [color=a4f4f9]"Unless he removed me from the administration registry. Then I’d have far less control."[/color] The ship was struggling to leave the ground. They really didn’t have much more time to gab. [color=a4f4f9]"Alright! We’ll figure it all out once I get aboard!"[/color] Dan turned towards the portal Marrie made and ran towards it. [color=a4f4f9]"Don’t worry Marrie! I’m coming for yaaaaaaaa!"[/color] [center] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019da7cd-0b25-72f8-8bb0-a15515b74f73.webp[/img] [color=77bb99]"Watch me be a giga chad."[/color] [color=888888]— Book Kidd[/color] [hider=Kidd] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5656223]Book Kidd[/url] Max MP: 50 Current MP: 46 - 9 = 37 Casting: Casting: [Projectile] 0 + [AoE E] 2 + [If Foe] 1 + [Damage X C] 6 = 9 Gear: Clip Light (6) Disguise (6) Gift (6 Probiotic Supplements) Grenade (6) Molotov (6) Smoke Bomb (6) Handcuffs (6) Leveraging: Demonic Physiology 6 [/hider][/center] Book Kidd was really moving fast. He put on the breaks as he approached Rika. [color=77bb99]"Forget about her!"[/color] He reached for her wrist. [color=77bb99]"I know those cute fem fatale types are probably right up your ally, but-"[/color] Kidd’s attention was drawn to the side of the spacecraft blowing open. [color=77bb99]"Damnit! I’ll be right back. Stick with Orion, she’s not too horrible!"[/color] Book Kidd barely had time to finish his sentence when he saw an esper blast out of the freshly created hole. [color=77bb99]"Uh!"[/color] He was holding his book with one hand, so he reached out with his other to try and catch her. Fortunately, monsters such as himself had tremendous strength, and it didn’t take too much effort to catch her with one hand. It did take some dexterity to prevent the woman from toppling over once her caught her though. He stumbled forward, then backward, and finally came to rest with her still suspended in the air. [color=77bb99]"Ah! I did it!"[/color] It was an awkward position for Phoebe to be in, however. She was sitting in the palm of a man that was dressed up in ornate cultist robes. Seeming to sense this, Kidd offered a few words. [color=77bb99]"It would be weirder if you weren’t wearing underwear."[/color] Though the banter was cut short when more of those slime things crept out of the hole in the hull. They weren’t just after the newly escaped esper however. Some of them were attacking the hands that were holding the ship down. [color=77bb99]"Stop boarding the ship!"[/color] Kidd called out, and his book glowed a bright crimson. [color=77bb99]"We gotta protect the hands!"[/color] He pointed his book at the slimes, and a crimson bolt of rust and blood zipped over to the hole in the ship. It exploded, but none of the blood or rust struck anyone nearby despite being in the blast zone. But the death of so many nearby slimes just bought them some breathing room, as more of the creatures were pouring out of the broken hull. [center] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019ea2cc-eb09-7569-b411-152a3bc690eb.webp[/img] [color=bd71e8]"Good thing termites don’t have ears."[/color] [color=888888]— Tim Tendril Termitidae[/color] [/center] Tim was not concerned with the espers trying to follow him. He had prepared for a possible engagement with the espers. Most of the strongest threats were well quarantined and wouldn’t be a problem. Better, now that the causality generator had been destroyed there was no reason to stick around. The experiments could commence, and who cared if they didn’t have every last esper in Pax? They had enough of them, and if they needed more there were other parts of the world where they would be less suspecting. With the sound of combat disappearing behind them, Tim carried Marrie into the room that held the causality generator. It was in ruins now, squirted on and torn apart by one of Dan’s guests. He leaned Marrie up against a wall and stepped away from her. He had heard all of her rambling, but hadn’t responded to any of it. [color=bd71e8]"You like aliens, hmmm?"[/color] He squeezed one of the tubes running along the outside of his outfit, and the purple cloud of smoke dissipated. He turned to Marrie and kneeled in front of her. She had finished talking, and it seemed like her mental facilities were serviceable. At least, as serviceable as they would be. [color=bd71e8]"Why do you like them?"[/color] He kneeled in front of her. [color=bd71e8]"Do you have a fascination with animals too? Is it that they’re exotic and different? Aliens are intelligent creatures right? Would you find a dog as interesting as an alien if it could talk or reason at a human level? What about beyond a human level?"[/color] The questions were rhetorical. Which Tim indicated when he stood up and continued talking. [color=bd71e8]"There are not many of us left, I’m sure ‘Dan’ told you as much."[/color] He approached one of the walls, where there seemed to be a console of some kind. At least that was what it had to be because Tim was pressing little cubes on it, but it was impossible to tell exactly what he was doing. [color=bd71e8]"We’ve performed all kinds of genetic experiments on ourselves. We’ve made ourselves a great deal stronger than we ought to be. The issue is genetic diversity. A race that is perpetual and never changes is doomed to fail eventually no matter how powerful it is. That is why creating new offspring with traits combined from its parents is an ideal way to create a race that constantly improves. While this can introduce defects, it is important to the long term survival of many creatures, ours included. This is no longer an option for my people. Or at least it wasn’t until we came here."[/color] Tim stopped pressing buttons. He didn’t look at Marrie. [color=bd71e8]"Do you really want to help us?"[/color]