[Log] A Typical Night In Midgar... (part 1)
Who: Caim, Emil Castagnier, Rion Steiner, Luke fon Fabre, Angeal Hewley
Where: Midgar (Crisis Core era) - Fantasy Sector - Sector One Reactor
What: Emil and Caim are drawn to the mako-harnessing reactors of The Planet's largest city. Emil doesn't take kindly to Caim's presence on his gig. Caim doesn't take kindly to Emil attacking him. Shinra doesn't like two one-man-army types fighting near something that could explode and take out half the sector. The IPA is called for additional assistance.
When: Sunday, March 29, 2009
Watch For: Token lone guard, Maria's maternal instincts, Rion learning there are worse trips than the ones drugs give him, Luke tries to beat the evil out of Emil.
(OOC: Rion needs a tag please~)
The boy is light on his feet. When he arrived to this plane, there was something about it that drew him into the city. Of course, once he saw the large structures on the city's border, he knew what it was he was sensing. The red-eyed kid has made it quickly through the city and towards one of them. Occasionally showing itself around the light footed swordsman is a strange, black panther-like creature. Tenebrae seems to be darting through walls and fences, probably causing some sort of minor uproar with individuals in the area. A ghost-like panther? Of course that might unsettle a few people.
The Knight of Ratatosk has a strange sense when it comes to the mana of his world, but Midgar and its processing of the mako energy is enough to set all those senses off to give weird signals to the kid. He slows to a stop as he manages to find himself near an exterior perimeter of one of the reactors. Red-eyes stare upwards, focused on the strange glow emanating from the top of the structure. "This feels very wrong." Tenebrae suddenly appears near Emil in a burst of black smoke and light. "Taking the time to stop? I'm surprised to see such a thing from you. You normally go barreling right in." The kid looks down to the Centurion with a rather cold expression in his eyes. "...better than the other me. He'd just flee from this area." Nothing is said from the creature, before Emil casually starts to walk the edge of the fence, not choosing to say much else on the topic.
Once more, he has awoken beneath an unfamiliar sky. He does not recognize the style of buildings that form the alley he rests within, nor the folk that move by in the oddly lighted evening. But this has ceased to surprise the One Eyed Man long ago. He is here, which means he needs to be here. It's simply a matter of figuring out why.
A gloved hand brushes against brick as he stands, checks the blade athawrt his hips, and begins to walk.
Something about the man is enough to keep the common folk from jostling him, the citizens out on the street at this hour drawing away instinctively from the silent, darkly clad swordsman. Possibly a few make some calls to the local authorities. Possibly they just hurry along home and make certain the door is locked. It does not matter to Caim. Something is calling him.
Boots scuff against pavement, and gloved fingers hook through the weave of a chain-link fence surrounding a structure that he does not understand, with lurid green light pouring upwards from its top. But he knows that what he seeks is inside.
The hand twists, metal squeals a protest, and the fence has a new hole.
And Caim walks.
Ripping through fencing is not an option for the knight. He does not possess the strength that the One Eyed Man holds. However, he seems to possess an unnatural speed and agility, which allows him to hop from crates and railings and simply land on the other side. His mind is halfway on the work he's doing, and halfway on trying to block out the energies in the back of his mind. Suddenly, Tenebrae dashes through a wall- disappearing from sight. The creature crosses Caim's path, though it gives a start and quickly the Centurion steps into the shadows- his native element- to remain out of sight.
"Lord Emil," a voice suddenly answers into the boy's mind. He's working his way around the wall that Tenebrae slipped past, starting the last steps to climb over it. "We're not alone."
"We're not?" The red-eyed knight mumbles-seemingly to himself as he leaps from the wall and clears it to land on the ground- without realizing that he's landing right in the path of the Bloody Handed Prince himself.
The massive city on the Eastern Continent of the Planet is impressive, to say the least. Each section 'floating' over the enormous wall surrounding the slums underneath, they teem with life and buildings, lights and construction; the Shinra Electric Power Company main building dominating the center. Night and day, the city probably never sleeps. At night, the green-light emissions of the reactors is visible for miles. It rarely gets cold here, though.
The passage of ghostly monsters are going to draw a few alarmed cries and probably no few panicked sounding phone calls to the local authority; something about a monster being loose in the city. But largely, Emil's progress to a certain point will be uninterrupted until he reaches the wall surrounding the massive reactor tower emblazoned with '01' on its side.
Caim will find the chain link fence easy enough to get to, but it's not the only wall that barricades anyone from unauthorized access to the station. In fact, it was a significant distance away, designed to warn people the safe distance to keep from the walls so they won't be troubled by patrols. The *actual* wall is a lot higher and much thicker, made of reinforced alloys. It's about three hundred feet over *there*.
There is irony about the power that draws the two men to imminent confrontation, something probably neither would know if they hadn't been in the city before this time. The output of the reactors is far lower than what's normally required by the city as a whole. In these times, the Shinra Company's ability to access information outside of their own world has come with a few lessons that, for most, have resulted in Enlightened self-interest. Use of mako for power is being phased out... slowly but surely and over time. In another year, maybe two, the entire city would be running on something more efficient, less draining of the world's life force.
...This is one of life's little ironies that it's *not* two years from now.
In any case, the tear of chain link fence might not have been immediately heard, but a light bobbing over near the primary wall suggests someone's approach. A lone, hapless guard and his canine companion.
You could call it canine, really. Even if it does have a long tentacle idly twisting in the air from the top of its head.
The One Eyed Man does not seem daunted by the curtain wall he approaches, nor hurried, walking almost casually towards the towering reactor. It's almost like he doesn't care. Or maybe... maybe he doesn't even see it.
He can hear this world's pulse.
The darting form of Tenebrae brings the swordsman to pause, surprised and wary, ready to respond immediately should there be an attack forthcoming. But the creature has vanished again, leaving him alone. Or perhaps almost alone, as that one guard begins the leg of his rounds that takes him past this section of wall. But still, Caim seems not to notice.
Instead, he lifts one hand and lays the palm flat against the wall before him, looking up along it measuringly, letting his hand slide against the metal absently. Hm.
"Lord Emil," Tenebrae says in the knight's mind again. "Two."
The knight had just landed near the long wall. He looks in the direction of the oncoming guard. There's a hiss underneath his breath, and he quickly draws his blade. What's one less guard, right? They'll be able to replace him certainly. The other dog-like thing with it may be dealt with in another manner entirely, but first?
The heavy, scraping sound is very short lived as the Knight of Ratatosk draws his weapon from its sheath along his back. He sweeps it out in front of him, "Dragon Fang!" - who says Emil was good at sneaking around? A fang of white energy is launched in the direction of the soldier and its animal. "Tenebrae- to my side." However, the red-eyed swordsman bolts after it, in an attempt to strike the animal escort with the flat of his blade- the intention is to weaken it. The Knight, however does catch a glimpse of another figure in the distant darkness- it isn't, however, of any concern to him at the moment.
Brave man, that guard. The dog picks up on the presence of intruders before the blue-uniformed, helmeted man is aware of either Caim or Emil; Tenebrae completely out of his senses and through the wall at the moment besides. The guard hound? Another story, but there are several threats to draw her master to with a low-throated growl. The flashlight - an attachment to the automatic rifle the man is carrying - pans around and focuses on Caim. "You there! You are tresspassing on Shinra property." Note is taken of the man even as the weapon is carefully trained. They do not take intruders this close to the reactor at all lightly. "Disarm yourself immediately and step away from the wall. I'm taking you in."
His ability to do this may suddenly be hampered by the immense pain of an unknown attack that chokes less than three words in to a radio report to dispatch. "This is---aarrrgh!"
The guard hound is not sanguine at all and a lot more nimble than her severely injured master. She manages to dart to the side, striking out at Emil with a vicious, whipping swipe of the long tentacle before she's struck on the side of the head with his blade. It brings a yelp from the creature, though if the Knight doesn't finish the matter, she'll recover quickly and start to bolt.
Light. A voice. ...oh, yes, of course this place would be guarded.
Caim pauses as the light focusses on him, though he doesn't turn to regard the uniformed man immediately, instead continuing to look up at the glowing tip of the reactor. A long enough delay to let the man speak. A long enough delay for Emil to strike.
One might think, watching the way it starts to play out, that Caim and Emil were working together, one drawing the guard's attention while the other moved in for the kill. Amazing the sorts of things one can get wrong based on circumstantial evidence. As the man screams and the dog yelps, the Bloody Handed Prince turns around.
And draws his sword. It is not a weapon of elegence and fancy ornamentation. It is a dark, notched, old two-handed warblade that has been the cause of more dead soldiers than any single weapon has a right to be.
And Caim has begun to walk towards the little scuffle, his weapon resting easy, almost lazily, in his right hand.
Emil quickly hops back as the hound is dropped to the ground. Tenebrae suddenly appears in front of Emil, between the knight and the prince. His clawed tail sweeps through the air idly, before he speaks, "Allow me to deal with the beast, so that it does not trouble you. We should move onward." This is said as it is obvious that they've drawn on the attention of the other intruder. Teeth bared, the knight of Ratatosk quickly sweeps the blade around in both hands. He can see Caim's sword, but has very little detail to it. Maybe not to the prince that is, but to the creature next to him. "All he'll alert the entire damn neighborhood if something's not done about him."
Without another word, the red-eyed boy takes off in a dash towards Caim. He skids to a stop, halfway through, before he sweeps the weapon across in front of him, sending a similar 'blade' of energy out towards the Bloody Handed Prince.
Emil Castagnier misses Caim with his Demon Fang! jab.
Ah, so that's the way it's going to be, then. Good.
Again that strange beast makes an appearance, but it seems to have its attention elsewhere, so Caim pays it little mind for now. Likewise, the man that was demanding surrender looks likely to be bleeding his last into the dirt. But this other, this boy... He looks like he thinks he's dangerous.
Ah, the young.
As the wave of force sweeps across the ground towards Caim, he utterly fails to flinch. Fails to raise a guard. Fails to even speed the pace of his walk. One might think it foolhardy bravado... until that wave crashes into him.
And breaks around him like surf around a stone.
But now it is his turn, and Caim lifts his free, empty hand, flexing it before him as though limbering the joints, before lashing it out towards Emil in a throwing gesture.
And the fires arrive like the blast of some sort of hellish artillery.
Caim hits Emil Castagnier with his HADOUKEN attack.
There's a cry of pain as the boy is thrown off his feet and slams heavily into the wall. His blade clatters nearby as he lost grip of it during the knockback somewhere. He breathes heavily, then closes his eyes. A fisted hand strikes the earth- the knight is cursing his body, for being as weak as it is... until he rises to his feet again. As he does, he laughs with a somewhat unhinged sounding tone. "...excellent. I've not seen anyone give me this kind of /joy/ in a very long time." These words are snarled from the red-eyed swordsman's lips. He strides towards the blade at the ground, before slipping a toe underneath it and kicking it up to grab hold of its hilt.
He buckles forward and launches in Caim's direction, this time, throwing all of his strength into sweeping across the ground and upwards, intending to take Caim up into the air with him. If the kid gets off of the ground, the air is his domain. There are a number of strikes against the prince, before the knight flips backwards, and calls for the power of Ventus. The Centurion of Wind's power surges through the knight and blades of wind cut through their target- of course, now he'll be right in front of Caim should the attack succeed- and unfortunately, he'd right within the man's reach, should it fail.
Emil Castagnier misses Caim with his Skill: Sky High; Houkokusen + Ventus attack.
Caim's eyes, both living and non, narrow as he notes his foe's continued movement. So he survived that one, hm? Looks like we'll have to try something else. But at least he's being polite and coming back over here.
Emil's blade sweeps in from below and crashes into a block that makes the blades ring like brazen bells, the vibrations in the hilt downright painful. Blades of wind buffet at the One Eyed Man, but his initial parry was enough to keep him on the ground, though he had to adjust his stance, and his cloak billows as he shakes his head, flipping his hair back from his living eye.
That bright blue, feral eye that is locked on the boy standing right here in front of him.
Again, Caim's free hand moves, but this time there is no spell, no gathering of mystic forces. No, this time it is a simple backhand, but with enough force behind it to shatter the bones of lesser men.
Caim gets a glancing blow on Emil Castagnier with his TAG! jab.
Perhaps it has shattered bones, and perhaps there was a heavy crack when the boy was struck. However, he makes a stunning recovery by simply managing to right himself once again almost immediately after hitting the ground. This time, the blast was not lost, and Emil simply launches himself forward. This time, the blade remains back behind him as he leaps into the air and drops down towards Caim with a large amount of force. What he intends to do may get two things dealt with- one? Knock the Bloody Handed Prince off of his feet, and two- try to use him as a blunt object to burst through the thick wall. Caim certainly seems sturdy enough to do so.
As the hound from earlier has been chased away, Tenebrae appears, seated upon the very wall the pair are fighting near. His tail swishes back and forth as his gold eyes just watch the scuffle. The Centurion appears to have no interest in acting. Not yet, at least. He's simply waiting for an order to assist in the fight.
Emil Castagnier critically strikes Caim with his Hey, can you help me with that wall over there? attack.
The severed transmission of the now-dead guard is worth investigation, given the last known position and a radio still transmitting, someone's going to be sent around. This time on high. Traffic isn't unusual in this city and the two combatants have probably already seen a few helicopters since they arrived; VIPs, late night arrivals from or depatures to the Junon military base. *This* one, on the other hand, seems to linger a couple of stories above the area, too low-flying to be concidence.
There is a spotlight, though the flare of energies flashing occasionally from the attacks are providing almost enough light for the occupants of the vehicle to track the proceedings.
Perhaps he misjudged the distance slightly, or the way Emil was moving, for Caim's strike actually unbalances the man a bit, making him catch his balance, giving the boy that chance to recover. And to counterattack. Caim's head lifts as Emil leaps, tracking the jump, but he doesn't dodge as he's slammed into. The crash when he impacts the wall may make some think that a battering ram has been applied. In a way, it has.
But both the wall and the Bloody Handed Prince survive, though the former has a distinctly human-shaped dent in it as the latter pulls himself free of it. And now his teeth are bared in an expression that is not a smile. A moment like that, paused, poised...
And then he moves.
Caim's charge is nearly as forceful as the fireball he unleashed earlier, a crackle of heat-thunder following his path as he lunges towards his foe, that massive two-handed sword of his lifting for an overhead strike, the Pact Warrior's mouth open in an utterly silent battle-howl as he aims to split Emil right down the middle.
Caim critically strikes Emil Castagnier with his SPLIT THEM OPEN attack.
At this point, though probably unheard, the radio chatter probably picks up and changes its tune. Few people could survive an impact like that and pick themselves up so easily. Fewer still could actually make a dent in a two and a half foot thick concrete wall reinforced with steel plating. This bears mentioning.
Slowly, the Knight of Ratatosk approaches the impact where Caim struck the wall. A twisted smile seems to finally show itself, and the knight moves to lift his blade, so that he can attempt to finish the prince... when his attention is diverted by the helicopter above him.
He snaps his eyes back towards Caim, but only after there's a shout of, "Look out, Emil!" The shout's from the Centurion. Tenebrae has not moved otherwise, but has a better vantage point over the battlefield, and can act as a second pair of eyes in this case. Or get his attention when he should be watching his enemy. Emil has lifted his right hand up, gritting his teeth. He calls on Gaorachias- the power of the Centurion of Earth coarses through his body- this is enough to prevent the blade from cleaving him in two.
What it doesn't stop is the force behind the overhead strike and it sends the Knight of Ratatosk to crash face first into the ground, crushing the boy's form down into the concrete and breaking it around him in a spiderweb of splinters. This appears to have possibly finished the blonde haired knight. At least, until his fingers twitch once, and he lifts a hand up to set it on the broken ground surrounding him. In the blink of an eye, the swordsman is onto his feet and bursts upwards in an explosion of flame, before he drives himself back down towards Caim.
Emil Castagnier critically strikes Caim with his Havok Strike + Ignis Core attack.
He can feel the battle-madness reaching for him. That hot prickle in the back of his mind. But there isn't enough blood.
Not nearly enough blood.
Snarling down at Emil's fallen form, Caim lifts his blade as though to deliver a coup de grace, the reversal of roles utterly lost on him for the moment. But then that helicopter's searchlight sweeps over him once more, and the Pact Warrior's head snaps up, teeth bared, and howls without sound towards the airborne vehicle. And while it gives Emil those few, precious seconds in which to get himself back together, it will undoubtedly not be as welcomed by the crew of the helicopter. Because Caim lashes out with an open hand once again, and once more, the fires blast forth.
It is then, though, that his true opponent takes advantage of the lapse in his guard. Knocked staggering by the upward lunge and flame burst, Caim is driven to one knee as Emil slams into him once more, gritting his teeth in pained irritation. This boy was beginning to get on his nerves. Fine, he wants to play rough?
Caim's back arches as though an electric jolt had ripped through him, mouth and eyes wide as light wells within them both... and then a shockwave like a truck full of explosives howls away from the man, tearing up the pavement around him in a storm of fire and shattered rock.
Caim misses Emil Castagnier with his BOOM attack.
Caim barely targets Angeal Hewley with his Fiyabarru action.
Angeal Hewley's voice abruptly cuts in. His tone is clipped and short. "I need to request assistance from any available IPA agents. Caim has been sighted in Sector One of Midgar
, engaged in combat with another man."
Tepet Tilis Tirana says, "Oh dear! Who is the other man?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Huh wha?"
Luke fon Fabre says, "...I'm not far from that Gate."
Angeal Hewley pause. "I'm not sure. I'll get a description in a minute. Most of our SOLDIER capable of handling this situation are out in the field, including General Sephiroth. We won't be able to recall them in time to prevent widespread damage... and they are fighting near one of the reactors." Another pause. "If you come, show your IPA badge and you'll be escorted where you need to go."
Luke fon Fabre says, "It's Caim. I'll follow the explosions. Escorts'll slow things down."
Shane Fitzgerald nggggs
Shane Fitzgerald says, "I'm kind o' locked up in somethin' or I'd be there. I owe that bastard a beatin'."
Ravikiran Srivastava makes an uncomfortable noise.
Luke fon Fabre says, "It's alright, Shane. I might be able to get him to leave."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "I don't wanna ta -leave-. I want his arse beaten ta the point where he won't be a problem ta the rest o' the multiverse."
Rion Steiner says, "In other words, you want him to die."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Yeah that's about right."
Rion Steiner says, "Then... why don't you kill him?"
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "... ..."
Luke fon Fabre says, "Not worth the cost. I'll get him to leave."
Angeal Hewley says, "Those who come need to remember to keep their heads. We're evacuating areas surrounding the reactor in a worse case scenario, but there are still civilians around. We have to contain the fight without letting it spread."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "We've tried. Last time I fought 'em the bastard left a sword in me."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Wanna see it? I've still got it somewhere."
Rion Steiner says, "He left you alive when you tried to kill him? I don't understand that."
Ravikiran Srivastava quietly, "There is also no telling what it would do to his world."
Luke fon Fabre says, "Exactly!"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "There were a few others o' us around. I guess he ju- wha?""
Rion Steiner ...makes an interested noise. "You still have it?" A pause. "What would happen to his world?"
Luke fon Fabre says, "Maybe they'll listen to you, they never did to me. You know what might happen, you explain it."
Angeal Hewley says, "What do you mean, what it will do?"
Aerith Gainsborough says, "... well... we know what happens to the /other/ worlds he attacks."
Angeal Hewley says, "I mean Caim's death, Miss Gainsborough. Luke and Ravikiran just implied his death would be worse than letting him live."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "It... I'm not entirely sure, however, from what was, ah, explained to me, Caim is quite deeply tied to that which keeps his world together. If he is indeed one of the foundations that prolongs the existence of his world, killing him could have disastrous consequences."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "...."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "..."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "... granted, it was he who explained it to me, there's no telling whether he was telling the truth-- well, for certain values of 'telling'..."
Luke fon Fabre says, "It's true."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "So.. yer tellin' me that we can't kill the bastard or we'll destroy his world. But if we just let the ---- roam around, he'll destroy everything else."
Aerith Gainsborough says, "... Well, I, can't you freeze him in carbonite or put him somewhere and remove the gate?"
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "I'm not saying what you can or cannot do. But I urge you, as /always/, Fitzgerald, to exercise great caution and understand the consequences of your actions."
Anthony Rosaio says, "Medically induced coma?"
Maria Tegawa says, "This carbonite idea is intriguing."
Rion Steiner says, "I'm not sure turning him into pencil lead will keep him alive."
Angeal Hewley says, "Ah, you refer to Caim's world. I see. Then... we will do our best to keep him alive and get him outside the city. Luke, when you get here, you'll want to approach the reactor from the south. That is the nearest blockade to the Gate. They'll let you through."
Luke fon Fabre says, "It won't fix the problem though. I said that before too. The stuff keeping him crazy needs to stop. He was a hero before, and wasn't always like this."
Aerith Gainsborough says, "I read one of the New Republic's generals had it happen, and he was fine..."
Luke fon Fabre says, "South, got it."
Harry Dresden says, "Don't lie, Maria. You just want him to hang on your wall so you can gloat and laugh evilly."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "/Dresden/!"
Rion Steiner says, "Oh, so he does it because he's crazy?"
Shane Fitzgerald mumbles
Rion Steiner says, "...I wonder why."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "He is... tormented."
Rion Steiner says, "By what?"
Luke fon Fabre says, "Broken. He's got a dragon screaming in agony in the back of his mind pretty much constantly, I think that'd do it to anyone."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "His Pact-Partner and her torment."
Tepet Tilis Tirana says, "That is the Realm way of doing things, actually..."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "So what..? We kill the dragon?"
Luke fon Fabre says, "That'd definitely break things. How about fixing the dragon?"
Maria Tegawa says, "Lies, Dresden, lies."
Rion Steiner says, "Then stop his--whatever it is, Pact-thing from being tormented. Can you do it?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "How the -feck- do yeh do -that-?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Just waltz up and give the dragon feckin' therapy?"
Luke fon Fabre flatly, "I'm sure a way could be found, if people weren't assuming murder was the best option."
Harry Dresden says, "Fix a dragon? I dunno, we could ask a veterinarian."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "I ain't bleedin' Freud."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "...."
Hexxi Felsprocket says, "To understand how to repair the damage done by the Dragon's situation, we must first understand the magics involved. Then we can take steps to dispel the enchantments without causing damage to the planet. But, we need to /understand the magic/."
With a sudden roar, the helicopter speeds up, attempting to avoid the powerful projectile; the pilots are no strangers to magically generate fire but the attack was sudden and it catches the understand of the vehicle, with the force of impact great enough to make the entire copter shudder. Stablizers whine as it peels off and the pilot engages in a credible effort to keep the vehicle from colliding with nearby buildings, sliding out of sight, though not hearing range. Emergency pinpoint landing is go
Even so, the screech and crunch of rotor blades sheering against the wall of the compound a little further on adds to the chaos of the night.
Hexxi Felsprocket says, "This is only possible through research, which we cannot do if we cannot study the magic involved."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "You would probably have to release her from the Seal somehow, or... I-I don't know, if the seal is broken without the Goddess, there is no telling what will happen to the world in that case either."
Rion Steiner says, "Okay, you go up to this guy and study him."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Yeah well. Yeh can go study the magic. Just try not ta get yerself ganked in the process."
Inside, the kinder half of the Knight of Ratatosk howls at the assault against the helicopter. He begs at the being that's in control of his body to let go! But to no avail. There is no chance to see the end result of the shockwave launched by the One Eyed Man- after all, the red-eyed swordsman leaps back and out of the path of the shockwave. He raises a hand, as the force from the shockwave seems to simply part around him. At this distance, the being possessing Emil's body has the power to manipulate the energy into parting around him. He quickly closes his hand into a fist, forcing it all to change into a force of dark energy. Rings of white light engulfed in a terrifying darkness on the edges surround Caim, before bolts of black energy strike him from above.
When Emil leaps forward, he lifts his blade up and suddenly slams it into the ground near Caim. This charge of energy simply bursts into an explosive force around the pair of them.
Emil Castagnier misses Caim with his Devil's Maw attack.
Aerith Gainsborough says, "I think he - from what people are saying he tries to kill everyone?"
Luke fon Fabre says, "Not always."
Angeal Hewley says, "I repeat. If anyone besides Luke is on their way, head to the south blockade in Sector One."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, ".. unless you serve some purpose for him, probably it would be asking for death."
Harry Dresden says, "Well, somebody else can study his magic, I'm too busy trying to figure out how to summon Ravi's sense of humour back from the ether."
Ravikiran Srivastava scowls audibly.
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Oh hey speakin' o'. How was yer vacatino Ravi?"
Ravikiran Srivastava angrily, "It was /fine/."
Shane Fitzgerald says, ".. woah..."
Harry Dresden stage-whispers loudly, "I don't think he meant that."
Kevin Graham hms. "Oh! 'ey, Maria? I'm gonna be submittin' a report to ya soon."
Maria Tegawa says, "DRESDEN."
Kevin Graham says, quite cheerfully! "I've got a plan!" This does not bode well.
Maria Tegawa says, "...okay Kevin."
Rion Steiner says, "..."
Maria Tegawa says, "/DRESDEN/."
Rion Steiner says, "O-ow..."
Meanwhile, Luke's scrambling along, trying to not wish an interesting life on the idiots in the IPA screaming for blood every time something happens. He'd shown his badge, got pointed in the right direction and promptly darted off to investigate what's going on and see if he can't .. stop it, or do something or god knows what to keep everything from exploding. Leaving it in the hands of people who go 'murder first!' didn't seem like a good idea /at all/.
Nevermind this isn't a place for young aristocrats. The helicopter, as it spirals, is watched for a moment - and then all that light and mayhem up ahead gives a pretty good idea of exactly where the trouble is. He'll be there soon.
Harry Dresden says, "Stars and stones, what?!"
Ravikiran Srivastava huffs.
Shane Fitzgerald says, "I think she wants yeh ta stop pickin' on Ravi."
Maria Tegawa says, "Is that really necessary? Really?"
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "Maria, don't concern yourself with it. Honestly, there are more important things to be be discussing, surely..."
Harry Dresden says, "I give everyone a hard time, what do you expect?"
Maria Tegawa says, "..."
Rion Steiner deadpans, "Tegawa, I'm going out for a bit."
Maria Tegawa says, "Where, Rion?"
Rion Steiner says, "For a walk..."
Hexxi Felsprocket says, "Oh I have no intention of examining Caim himself. I'm not suicidal! I meant this Dragon and Seal."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "--Oh, you are Rion?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "... If it's the Dragon that's makin' Caim go crazy, yeh sure that's such a good idea?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "and hey Rion, take care o' yerself okay?"
Maria Tegawa says, "A walk wh-you know what, come here for a second."
Rion Steiner says, "Yessir."
Aerith Gainsborough says, "It's not literally... in his head, is it? And yes, um, be careful."
Luke fon Fabre says, "The dragon's not moving any, Caim's the mobile part."
Hexxi Felsprocket says, "The impression I got was that the Dragon being in the Seal is what's causing his aggression."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Fff. Whatever then."
Rion Steiner says, "........Tegawa."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "I see..."
Rion Steiner says, "What are you doing--what was THAT."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "... ... Maria what are you..."
Maria Tegawa says, "Now you can go."
Shane Fitzgerald says, ".... ... Miss Tegawa what d-."
Rion Steiner says, "But what was--"
Hexxi Felsprocket says, "I wonder...how a marine mammal could eat a /dragon/ though..."
Rion Steiner says, "...Nevermind. I'll ask you later. I'm going now."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "... ..."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "hey Rion?"
Maria Tegawa says, "You're under my protection, it's only appropriate."
Rion Steiner says, "Yessir?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Don't get yerself inta any trouble that'll cause Miss Tegawa worry oaky?"
Rion Steiner says, "To put post-its on my head?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "..."
Rion Steiner says, "Whatever."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "...."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Yeaaaaaaaaaaah."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Don't ah.."
Aerith Gainsborough says, "a - post it note?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Don't get inta any trouble."
Rion Steiner says, "...I'm fourteen, how much trouble could I get into?"
Fire howls. Stone dances. A single man stands at the center of the firestorm, and a terrible light burns within his single, living eye. That eye turns to fix upon Emil as the rings form, a nearly physical force directed through that gaze, a promise of pain, of death, of worse than death.
WE COME FOR YOU
The blasts of force splash and snarl around the One Eyed Man, who stands as though transfixed at their focal point, the ground peeling up in strips around him, fragmenting into some weird, sharp-edged flower of pain. But he does not fall. Blood has begun to leak from beneath his hairline, from his ears, his nose, between snarling teeth, but he does not fall.
No matter how loudly the wind howls, the mountain cannot bow to it.
Even as Emil's attacks hurl their fury upon Caim, he lifts a hand, clenches it to a fist before his breastbone.
And then flicks his fingers open towards the boy with the sword.
Every force directed against the Bloody Handed Prince literally SCREAMS, forced into new directions and forms through sheer brute force, and the very air ignites in a howling holocaust, the suggestions of screaming faces perhaps visible within the blastwave.
Caim misses Emil Castagnier with his I shall sing the song that ends the world super.
Where: Midgar (Crisis Core era) - Fantasy Sector - Sector One Reactor
What: Emil and Caim are drawn to the mako-harnessing reactors of The Planet's largest city. Emil doesn't take kindly to Caim's presence on his gig. Caim doesn't take kindly to Emil attacking him. Shinra doesn't like two one-man-army types fighting near something that could explode and take out half the sector. The IPA is called for additional assistance.
When: Sunday, March 29, 2009
Watch For: Token lone guard, Maria's maternal instincts, Rion learning there are worse trips than the ones drugs give him, Luke tries to beat the evil out of Emil.
(OOC: Rion needs a tag please~)
The boy is light on his feet. When he arrived to this plane, there was something about it that drew him into the city. Of course, once he saw the large structures on the city's border, he knew what it was he was sensing. The red-eyed kid has made it quickly through the city and towards one of them. Occasionally showing itself around the light footed swordsman is a strange, black panther-like creature. Tenebrae seems to be darting through walls and fences, probably causing some sort of minor uproar with individuals in the area. A ghost-like panther? Of course that might unsettle a few people.
The Knight of Ratatosk has a strange sense when it comes to the mana of his world, but Midgar and its processing of the mako energy is enough to set all those senses off to give weird signals to the kid. He slows to a stop as he manages to find himself near an exterior perimeter of one of the reactors. Red-eyes stare upwards, focused on the strange glow emanating from the top of the structure. "This feels very wrong." Tenebrae suddenly appears near Emil in a burst of black smoke and light. "Taking the time to stop? I'm surprised to see such a thing from you. You normally go barreling right in." The kid looks down to the Centurion with a rather cold expression in his eyes. "...better than the other me. He'd just flee from this area." Nothing is said from the creature, before Emil casually starts to walk the edge of the fence, not choosing to say much else on the topic.
Once more, he has awoken beneath an unfamiliar sky. He does not recognize the style of buildings that form the alley he rests within, nor the folk that move by in the oddly lighted evening. But this has ceased to surprise the One Eyed Man long ago. He is here, which means he needs to be here. It's simply a matter of figuring out why.
A gloved hand brushes against brick as he stands, checks the blade athawrt his hips, and begins to walk.
Something about the man is enough to keep the common folk from jostling him, the citizens out on the street at this hour drawing away instinctively from the silent, darkly clad swordsman. Possibly a few make some calls to the local authorities. Possibly they just hurry along home and make certain the door is locked. It does not matter to Caim. Something is calling him.
Boots scuff against pavement, and gloved fingers hook through the weave of a chain-link fence surrounding a structure that he does not understand, with lurid green light pouring upwards from its top. But he knows that what he seeks is inside.
The hand twists, metal squeals a protest, and the fence has a new hole.
And Caim walks.
Ripping through fencing is not an option for the knight. He does not possess the strength that the One Eyed Man holds. However, he seems to possess an unnatural speed and agility, which allows him to hop from crates and railings and simply land on the other side. His mind is halfway on the work he's doing, and halfway on trying to block out the energies in the back of his mind. Suddenly, Tenebrae dashes through a wall- disappearing from sight. The creature crosses Caim's path, though it gives a start and quickly the Centurion steps into the shadows- his native element- to remain out of sight.
"Lord Emil," a voice suddenly answers into the boy's mind. He's working his way around the wall that Tenebrae slipped past, starting the last steps to climb over it. "We're not alone."
"We're not?" The red-eyed knight mumbles-seemingly to himself as he leaps from the wall and clears it to land on the ground- without realizing that he's landing right in the path of the Bloody Handed Prince himself.
The massive city on the Eastern Continent of the Planet is impressive, to say the least. Each section 'floating' over the enormous wall surrounding the slums underneath, they teem with life and buildings, lights and construction; the Shinra Electric Power Company main building dominating the center. Night and day, the city probably never sleeps. At night, the green-light emissions of the reactors is visible for miles. It rarely gets cold here, though.
The passage of ghostly monsters are going to draw a few alarmed cries and probably no few panicked sounding phone calls to the local authority; something about a monster being loose in the city. But largely, Emil's progress to a certain point will be uninterrupted until he reaches the wall surrounding the massive reactor tower emblazoned with '01' on its side.
Caim will find the chain link fence easy enough to get to, but it's not the only wall that barricades anyone from unauthorized access to the station. In fact, it was a significant distance away, designed to warn people the safe distance to keep from the walls so they won't be troubled by patrols. The *actual* wall is a lot higher and much thicker, made of reinforced alloys. It's about three hundred feet over *there*.
There is irony about the power that draws the two men to imminent confrontation, something probably neither would know if they hadn't been in the city before this time. The output of the reactors is far lower than what's normally required by the city as a whole. In these times, the Shinra Company's ability to access information outside of their own world has come with a few lessons that, for most, have resulted in Enlightened self-interest. Use of mako for power is being phased out... slowly but surely and over time. In another year, maybe two, the entire city would be running on something more efficient, less draining of the world's life force.
...This is one of life's little ironies that it's *not* two years from now.
In any case, the tear of chain link fence might not have been immediately heard, but a light bobbing over near the primary wall suggests someone's approach. A lone, hapless guard and his canine companion.
You could call it canine, really. Even if it does have a long tentacle idly twisting in the air from the top of its head.
The One Eyed Man does not seem daunted by the curtain wall he approaches, nor hurried, walking almost casually towards the towering reactor. It's almost like he doesn't care. Or maybe... maybe he doesn't even see it.
He can hear this world's pulse.
The darting form of Tenebrae brings the swordsman to pause, surprised and wary, ready to respond immediately should there be an attack forthcoming. But the creature has vanished again, leaving him alone. Or perhaps almost alone, as that one guard begins the leg of his rounds that takes him past this section of wall. But still, Caim seems not to notice.
Instead, he lifts one hand and lays the palm flat against the wall before him, looking up along it measuringly, letting his hand slide against the metal absently. Hm.
"Lord Emil," Tenebrae says in the knight's mind again. "Two."
The knight had just landed near the long wall. He looks in the direction of the oncoming guard. There's a hiss underneath his breath, and he quickly draws his blade. What's one less guard, right? They'll be able to replace him certainly. The other dog-like thing with it may be dealt with in another manner entirely, but first?
The heavy, scraping sound is very short lived as the Knight of Ratatosk draws his weapon from its sheath along his back. He sweeps it out in front of him, "Dragon Fang!" - who says Emil was good at sneaking around? A fang of white energy is launched in the direction of the soldier and its animal. "Tenebrae- to my side." However, the red-eyed swordsman bolts after it, in an attempt to strike the animal escort with the flat of his blade- the intention is to weaken it. The Knight, however does catch a glimpse of another figure in the distant darkness- it isn't, however, of any concern to him at the moment.
Brave man, that guard. The dog picks up on the presence of intruders before the blue-uniformed, helmeted man is aware of either Caim or Emil; Tenebrae completely out of his senses and through the wall at the moment besides. The guard hound? Another story, but there are several threats to draw her master to with a low-throated growl. The flashlight - an attachment to the automatic rifle the man is carrying - pans around and focuses on Caim. "You there! You are tresspassing on Shinra property." Note is taken of the man even as the weapon is carefully trained. They do not take intruders this close to the reactor at all lightly. "Disarm yourself immediately and step away from the wall. I'm taking you in."
His ability to do this may suddenly be hampered by the immense pain of an unknown attack that chokes less than three words in to a radio report to dispatch. "This is---aarrrgh!"
The guard hound is not sanguine at all and a lot more nimble than her severely injured master. She manages to dart to the side, striking out at Emil with a vicious, whipping swipe of the long tentacle before she's struck on the side of the head with his blade. It brings a yelp from the creature, though if the Knight doesn't finish the matter, she'll recover quickly and start to bolt.
Light. A voice. ...oh, yes, of course this place would be guarded.
Caim pauses as the light focusses on him, though he doesn't turn to regard the uniformed man immediately, instead continuing to look up at the glowing tip of the reactor. A long enough delay to let the man speak. A long enough delay for Emil to strike.
One might think, watching the way it starts to play out, that Caim and Emil were working together, one drawing the guard's attention while the other moved in for the kill. Amazing the sorts of things one can get wrong based on circumstantial evidence. As the man screams and the dog yelps, the Bloody Handed Prince turns around.
And draws his sword. It is not a weapon of elegence and fancy ornamentation. It is a dark, notched, old two-handed warblade that has been the cause of more dead soldiers than any single weapon has a right to be.
And Caim has begun to walk towards the little scuffle, his weapon resting easy, almost lazily, in his right hand.
Emil quickly hops back as the hound is dropped to the ground. Tenebrae suddenly appears in front of Emil, between the knight and the prince. His clawed tail sweeps through the air idly, before he speaks, "Allow me to deal with the beast, so that it does not trouble you. We should move onward." This is said as it is obvious that they've drawn on the attention of the other intruder. Teeth bared, the knight of Ratatosk quickly sweeps the blade around in both hands. He can see Caim's sword, but has very little detail to it. Maybe not to the prince that is, but to the creature next to him. "All he'll alert the entire damn neighborhood if something's not done about him."
Without another word, the red-eyed boy takes off in a dash towards Caim. He skids to a stop, halfway through, before he sweeps the weapon across in front of him, sending a similar 'blade' of energy out towards the Bloody Handed Prince.
Emil Castagnier misses Caim with his Demon Fang! jab.
Ah, so that's the way it's going to be, then. Good.
Again that strange beast makes an appearance, but it seems to have its attention elsewhere, so Caim pays it little mind for now. Likewise, the man that was demanding surrender looks likely to be bleeding his last into the dirt. But this other, this boy... He looks like he thinks he's dangerous.
Ah, the young.
As the wave of force sweeps across the ground towards Caim, he utterly fails to flinch. Fails to raise a guard. Fails to even speed the pace of his walk. One might think it foolhardy bravado... until that wave crashes into him.
And breaks around him like surf around a stone.
But now it is his turn, and Caim lifts his free, empty hand, flexing it before him as though limbering the joints, before lashing it out towards Emil in a throwing gesture.
And the fires arrive like the blast of some sort of hellish artillery.
Caim hits Emil Castagnier with his HADOUKEN attack.
There's a cry of pain as the boy is thrown off his feet and slams heavily into the wall. His blade clatters nearby as he lost grip of it during the knockback somewhere. He breathes heavily, then closes his eyes. A fisted hand strikes the earth- the knight is cursing his body, for being as weak as it is... until he rises to his feet again. As he does, he laughs with a somewhat unhinged sounding tone. "...excellent. I've not seen anyone give me this kind of /joy/ in a very long time." These words are snarled from the red-eyed swordsman's lips. He strides towards the blade at the ground, before slipping a toe underneath it and kicking it up to grab hold of its hilt.
He buckles forward and launches in Caim's direction, this time, throwing all of his strength into sweeping across the ground and upwards, intending to take Caim up into the air with him. If the kid gets off of the ground, the air is his domain. There are a number of strikes against the prince, before the knight flips backwards, and calls for the power of Ventus. The Centurion of Wind's power surges through the knight and blades of wind cut through their target- of course, now he'll be right in front of Caim should the attack succeed- and unfortunately, he'd right within the man's reach, should it fail.
Emil Castagnier misses Caim with his Skill: Sky High; Houkokusen + Ventus attack.
Caim's eyes, both living and non, narrow as he notes his foe's continued movement. So he survived that one, hm? Looks like we'll have to try something else. But at least he's being polite and coming back over here.
Emil's blade sweeps in from below and crashes into a block that makes the blades ring like brazen bells, the vibrations in the hilt downright painful. Blades of wind buffet at the One Eyed Man, but his initial parry was enough to keep him on the ground, though he had to adjust his stance, and his cloak billows as he shakes his head, flipping his hair back from his living eye.
That bright blue, feral eye that is locked on the boy standing right here in front of him.
Again, Caim's free hand moves, but this time there is no spell, no gathering of mystic forces. No, this time it is a simple backhand, but with enough force behind it to shatter the bones of lesser men.
Caim gets a glancing blow on Emil Castagnier with his TAG! jab.
Perhaps it has shattered bones, and perhaps there was a heavy crack when the boy was struck. However, he makes a stunning recovery by simply managing to right himself once again almost immediately after hitting the ground. This time, the blast was not lost, and Emil simply launches himself forward. This time, the blade remains back behind him as he leaps into the air and drops down towards Caim with a large amount of force. What he intends to do may get two things dealt with- one? Knock the Bloody Handed Prince off of his feet, and two- try to use him as a blunt object to burst through the thick wall. Caim certainly seems sturdy enough to do so.
As the hound from earlier has been chased away, Tenebrae appears, seated upon the very wall the pair are fighting near. His tail swishes back and forth as his gold eyes just watch the scuffle. The Centurion appears to have no interest in acting. Not yet, at least. He's simply waiting for an order to assist in the fight.
Emil Castagnier critically strikes Caim with his Hey, can you help me with that wall over there? attack.
The severed transmission of the now-dead guard is worth investigation, given the last known position and a radio still transmitting, someone's going to be sent around. This time on high. Traffic isn't unusual in this city and the two combatants have probably already seen a few helicopters since they arrived; VIPs, late night arrivals from or depatures to the Junon military base. *This* one, on the other hand, seems to linger a couple of stories above the area, too low-flying to be concidence.
There is a spotlight, though the flare of energies flashing occasionally from the attacks are providing almost enough light for the occupants of the vehicle to track the proceedings.
Perhaps he misjudged the distance slightly, or the way Emil was moving, for Caim's strike actually unbalances the man a bit, making him catch his balance, giving the boy that chance to recover. And to counterattack. Caim's head lifts as Emil leaps, tracking the jump, but he doesn't dodge as he's slammed into. The crash when he impacts the wall may make some think that a battering ram has been applied. In a way, it has.
But both the wall and the Bloody Handed Prince survive, though the former has a distinctly human-shaped dent in it as the latter pulls himself free of it. And now his teeth are bared in an expression that is not a smile. A moment like that, paused, poised...
And then he moves.
Caim's charge is nearly as forceful as the fireball he unleashed earlier, a crackle of heat-thunder following his path as he lunges towards his foe, that massive two-handed sword of his lifting for an overhead strike, the Pact Warrior's mouth open in an utterly silent battle-howl as he aims to split Emil right down the middle.
Caim critically strikes Emil Castagnier with his SPLIT THEM OPEN attack.
At this point, though probably unheard, the radio chatter probably picks up and changes its tune. Few people could survive an impact like that and pick themselves up so easily. Fewer still could actually make a dent in a two and a half foot thick concrete wall reinforced with steel plating. This bears mentioning.
Slowly, the Knight of Ratatosk approaches the impact where Caim struck the wall. A twisted smile seems to finally show itself, and the knight moves to lift his blade, so that he can attempt to finish the prince... when his attention is diverted by the helicopter above him.
He snaps his eyes back towards Caim, but only after there's a shout of, "Look out, Emil!" The shout's from the Centurion. Tenebrae has not moved otherwise, but has a better vantage point over the battlefield, and can act as a second pair of eyes in this case. Or get his attention when he should be watching his enemy. Emil has lifted his right hand up, gritting his teeth. He calls on Gaorachias- the power of the Centurion of Earth coarses through his body- this is enough to prevent the blade from cleaving him in two.
What it doesn't stop is the force behind the overhead strike and it sends the Knight of Ratatosk to crash face first into the ground, crushing the boy's form down into the concrete and breaking it around him in a spiderweb of splinters. This appears to have possibly finished the blonde haired knight. At least, until his fingers twitch once, and he lifts a hand up to set it on the broken ground surrounding him. In the blink of an eye, the swordsman is onto his feet and bursts upwards in an explosion of flame, before he drives himself back down towards Caim.
Emil Castagnier critically strikes Caim with his Havok Strike + Ignis Core attack.
He can feel the battle-madness reaching for him. That hot prickle in the back of his mind. But there isn't enough blood.
Not nearly enough blood.
Snarling down at Emil's fallen form, Caim lifts his blade as though to deliver a coup de grace, the reversal of roles utterly lost on him for the moment. But then that helicopter's searchlight sweeps over him once more, and the Pact Warrior's head snaps up, teeth bared, and howls without sound towards the airborne vehicle. And while it gives Emil those few, precious seconds in which to get himself back together, it will undoubtedly not be as welcomed by the crew of the helicopter. Because Caim lashes out with an open hand once again, and once more, the fires blast forth.
It is then, though, that his true opponent takes advantage of the lapse in his guard. Knocked staggering by the upward lunge and flame burst, Caim is driven to one knee as Emil slams into him once more, gritting his teeth in pained irritation. This boy was beginning to get on his nerves. Fine, he wants to play rough?
Caim's back arches as though an electric jolt had ripped through him, mouth and eyes wide as light wells within them both... and then a shockwave like a truck full of explosives howls away from the man, tearing up the pavement around him in a storm of fire and shattered rock.
Caim misses Emil Castagnier with his BOOM attack.
Caim barely targets Angeal Hewley with his Fiyabarru action.
Angeal Hewley's voice abruptly cuts in. His tone is clipped and short. "I need to request assistance from any available IPA agents. Caim has been sighted in Sector One of Midgar
, engaged in combat with another man."
Tepet Tilis Tirana says, "Oh dear! Who is the other man?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Huh wha?"
Luke fon Fabre says, "...I'm not far from that Gate."
Angeal Hewley pause. "I'm not sure. I'll get a description in a minute. Most of our SOLDIER capable of handling this situation are out in the field, including General Sephiroth. We won't be able to recall them in time to prevent widespread damage... and they are fighting near one of the reactors." Another pause. "If you come, show your IPA badge and you'll be escorted where you need to go."
Luke fon Fabre says, "It's Caim. I'll follow the explosions. Escorts'll slow things down."
Shane Fitzgerald nggggs
Shane Fitzgerald says, "I'm kind o' locked up in somethin' or I'd be there. I owe that bastard a beatin'."
Ravikiran Srivastava makes an uncomfortable noise.
Luke fon Fabre says, "It's alright, Shane. I might be able to get him to leave."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "I don't wanna ta -leave-. I want his arse beaten ta the point where he won't be a problem ta the rest o' the multiverse."
Rion Steiner says, "In other words, you want him to die."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Yeah that's about right."
Rion Steiner says, "Then... why don't you kill him?"
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "... ..."
Luke fon Fabre says, "Not worth the cost. I'll get him to leave."
Angeal Hewley says, "Those who come need to remember to keep their heads. We're evacuating areas surrounding the reactor in a worse case scenario, but there are still civilians around. We have to contain the fight without letting it spread."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "We've tried. Last time I fought 'em the bastard left a sword in me."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Wanna see it? I've still got it somewhere."
Rion Steiner says, "He left you alive when you tried to kill him? I don't understand that."
Ravikiran Srivastava quietly, "There is also no telling what it would do to his world."
Luke fon Fabre says, "Exactly!"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "There were a few others o' us around. I guess he ju- wha?""
Rion Steiner ...makes an interested noise. "You still have it?" A pause. "What would happen to his world?"
Luke fon Fabre says, "Maybe they'll listen to you, they never did to me. You know what might happen, you explain it."
Angeal Hewley says, "What do you mean, what it will do?"
Aerith Gainsborough says, "... well... we know what happens to the /other/ worlds he attacks."
Angeal Hewley says, "I mean Caim's death, Miss Gainsborough. Luke and Ravikiran just implied his death would be worse than letting him live."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "It... I'm not entirely sure, however, from what was, ah, explained to me, Caim is quite deeply tied to that which keeps his world together. If he is indeed one of the foundations that prolongs the existence of his world, killing him could have disastrous consequences."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "...."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "..."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "... granted, it was he who explained it to me, there's no telling whether he was telling the truth-- well, for certain values of 'telling'..."
Luke fon Fabre says, "It's true."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "So.. yer tellin' me that we can't kill the bastard or we'll destroy his world. But if we just let the ---- roam around, he'll destroy everything else."
Aerith Gainsborough says, "... Well, I, can't you freeze him in carbonite or put him somewhere and remove the gate?"
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "I'm not saying what you can or cannot do. But I urge you, as /always/, Fitzgerald, to exercise great caution and understand the consequences of your actions."
Anthony Rosaio says, "Medically induced coma?"
Maria Tegawa says, "This carbonite idea is intriguing."
Rion Steiner says, "I'm not sure turning him into pencil lead will keep him alive."
Angeal Hewley says, "Ah, you refer to Caim's world. I see. Then... we will do our best to keep him alive and get him outside the city. Luke, when you get here, you'll want to approach the reactor from the south. That is the nearest blockade to the Gate. They'll let you through."
Luke fon Fabre says, "It won't fix the problem though. I said that before too. The stuff keeping him crazy needs to stop. He was a hero before, and wasn't always like this."
Aerith Gainsborough says, "I read one of the New Republic's generals had it happen, and he was fine..."
Luke fon Fabre says, "South, got it."
Harry Dresden says, "Don't lie, Maria. You just want him to hang on your wall so you can gloat and laugh evilly."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "/Dresden/!"
Rion Steiner says, "Oh, so he does it because he's crazy?"
Shane Fitzgerald mumbles
Rion Steiner says, "...I wonder why."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "He is... tormented."
Rion Steiner says, "By what?"
Luke fon Fabre says, "Broken. He's got a dragon screaming in agony in the back of his mind pretty much constantly, I think that'd do it to anyone."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "His Pact-Partner and her torment."
Tepet Tilis Tirana says, "That is the Realm way of doing things, actually..."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "So what..? We kill the dragon?"
Luke fon Fabre says, "That'd definitely break things. How about fixing the dragon?"
Maria Tegawa says, "Lies, Dresden, lies."
Rion Steiner says, "Then stop his--whatever it is, Pact-thing from being tormented. Can you do it?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "How the -feck- do yeh do -that-?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Just waltz up and give the dragon feckin' therapy?"
Luke fon Fabre flatly, "I'm sure a way could be found, if people weren't assuming murder was the best option."
Harry Dresden says, "Fix a dragon? I dunno, we could ask a veterinarian."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "I ain't bleedin' Freud."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "...."
Hexxi Felsprocket says, "To understand how to repair the damage done by the Dragon's situation, we must first understand the magics involved. Then we can take steps to dispel the enchantments without causing damage to the planet. But, we need to /understand the magic/."
With a sudden roar, the helicopter speeds up, attempting to avoid the powerful projectile; the pilots are no strangers to magically generate fire but the attack was sudden and it catches the understand of the vehicle, with the force of impact great enough to make the entire copter shudder. Stablizers whine as it peels off and the pilot engages in a credible effort to keep the vehicle from colliding with nearby buildings, sliding out of sight, though not hearing range. Emergency pinpoint landing is go
Even so, the screech and crunch of rotor blades sheering against the wall of the compound a little further on adds to the chaos of the night.
Hexxi Felsprocket says, "This is only possible through research, which we cannot do if we cannot study the magic involved."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "You would probably have to release her from the Seal somehow, or... I-I don't know, if the seal is broken without the Goddess, there is no telling what will happen to the world in that case either."
Rion Steiner says, "Okay, you go up to this guy and study him."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Yeah well. Yeh can go study the magic. Just try not ta get yerself ganked in the process."
Inside, the kinder half of the Knight of Ratatosk howls at the assault against the helicopter. He begs at the being that's in control of his body to let go! But to no avail. There is no chance to see the end result of the shockwave launched by the One Eyed Man- after all, the red-eyed swordsman leaps back and out of the path of the shockwave. He raises a hand, as the force from the shockwave seems to simply part around him. At this distance, the being possessing Emil's body has the power to manipulate the energy into parting around him. He quickly closes his hand into a fist, forcing it all to change into a force of dark energy. Rings of white light engulfed in a terrifying darkness on the edges surround Caim, before bolts of black energy strike him from above.
When Emil leaps forward, he lifts his blade up and suddenly slams it into the ground near Caim. This charge of energy simply bursts into an explosive force around the pair of them.
Emil Castagnier misses Caim with his Devil's Maw attack.
Aerith Gainsborough says, "I think he - from what people are saying he tries to kill everyone?"
Luke fon Fabre says, "Not always."
Angeal Hewley says, "I repeat. If anyone besides Luke is on their way, head to the south blockade in Sector One."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, ".. unless you serve some purpose for him, probably it would be asking for death."
Harry Dresden says, "Well, somebody else can study his magic, I'm too busy trying to figure out how to summon Ravi's sense of humour back from the ether."
Ravikiran Srivastava scowls audibly.
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Oh hey speakin' o'. How was yer vacatino Ravi?"
Ravikiran Srivastava angrily, "It was /fine/."
Shane Fitzgerald says, ".. woah..."
Harry Dresden stage-whispers loudly, "I don't think he meant that."
Kevin Graham hms. "Oh! 'ey, Maria? I'm gonna be submittin' a report to ya soon."
Maria Tegawa says, "DRESDEN."
Kevin Graham says, quite cheerfully! "I've got a plan!" This does not bode well.
Maria Tegawa says, "...okay Kevin."
Rion Steiner says, "..."
Maria Tegawa says, "/DRESDEN/."
Rion Steiner says, "O-ow..."
Meanwhile, Luke's scrambling along, trying to not wish an interesting life on the idiots in the IPA screaming for blood every time something happens. He'd shown his badge, got pointed in the right direction and promptly darted off to investigate what's going on and see if he can't .. stop it, or do something or god knows what to keep everything from exploding. Leaving it in the hands of people who go 'murder first!' didn't seem like a good idea /at all/.
Nevermind this isn't a place for young aristocrats. The helicopter, as it spirals, is watched for a moment - and then all that light and mayhem up ahead gives a pretty good idea of exactly where the trouble is. He'll be there soon.
Harry Dresden says, "Stars and stones, what?!"
Ravikiran Srivastava huffs.
Shane Fitzgerald says, "I think she wants yeh ta stop pickin' on Ravi."
Maria Tegawa says, "Is that really necessary? Really?"
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "Maria, don't concern yourself with it. Honestly, there are more important things to be be discussing, surely..."
Harry Dresden says, "I give everyone a hard time, what do you expect?"
Maria Tegawa says, "..."
Rion Steiner deadpans, "Tegawa, I'm going out for a bit."
Maria Tegawa says, "Where, Rion?"
Rion Steiner says, "For a walk..."
Hexxi Felsprocket says, "Oh I have no intention of examining Caim himself. I'm not suicidal! I meant this Dragon and Seal."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "--Oh, you are Rion?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "... If it's the Dragon that's makin' Caim go crazy, yeh sure that's such a good idea?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "and hey Rion, take care o' yerself okay?"
Maria Tegawa says, "A walk wh-you know what, come here for a second."
Rion Steiner says, "Yessir."
Aerith Gainsborough says, "It's not literally... in his head, is it? And yes, um, be careful."
Luke fon Fabre says, "The dragon's not moving any, Caim's the mobile part."
Hexxi Felsprocket says, "The impression I got was that the Dragon being in the Seal is what's causing his aggression."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Fff. Whatever then."
Rion Steiner says, "........Tegawa."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "I see..."
Rion Steiner says, "What are you doing--what was THAT."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "... ... Maria what are you..."
Maria Tegawa says, "Now you can go."
Shane Fitzgerald says, ".... ... Miss Tegawa what d-."
Rion Steiner says, "But what was--"
Hexxi Felsprocket says, "I wonder...how a marine mammal could eat a /dragon/ though..."
Rion Steiner says, "...Nevermind. I'll ask you later. I'm going now."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "... ..."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "hey Rion?"
Maria Tegawa says, "You're under my protection, it's only appropriate."
Rion Steiner says, "Yessir?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Don't get yerself inta any trouble that'll cause Miss Tegawa worry oaky?"
Rion Steiner says, "To put post-its on my head?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "..."
Rion Steiner says, "Whatever."
Ravikiran Srivastava says, "...."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Yeaaaaaaaaaaah."
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Don't ah.."
Aerith Gainsborough says, "a - post it note?"
Shane Fitzgerald says, "Don't get inta any trouble."
Rion Steiner says, "...I'm fourteen, how much trouble could I get into?"
Fire howls. Stone dances. A single man stands at the center of the firestorm, and a terrible light burns within his single, living eye. That eye turns to fix upon Emil as the rings form, a nearly physical force directed through that gaze, a promise of pain, of death, of worse than death.
WE COME FOR YOU
The blasts of force splash and snarl around the One Eyed Man, who stands as though transfixed at their focal point, the ground peeling up in strips around him, fragmenting into some weird, sharp-edged flower of pain. But he does not fall. Blood has begun to leak from beneath his hairline, from his ears, his nose, between snarling teeth, but he does not fall.
No matter how loudly the wind howls, the mountain cannot bow to it.
Even as Emil's attacks hurl their fury upon Caim, he lifts a hand, clenches it to a fist before his breastbone.
And then flicks his fingers open towards the boy with the sword.
Every force directed against the Bloody Handed Prince literally SCREAMS, forced into new directions and forms through sheer brute force, and the very air ignites in a howling holocaust, the suggestions of screaming faces perhaps visible within the blastwave.
Caim misses Emil Castagnier with his I shall sing the song that ends the world super.