Who the hell came up with moving cacti? Worst idea EVER. [Open]

[buriedmemory]

Characters: Isako and whoever wants to log some good ol' cacti killin'
Content: Cactuar are attacking the ships!
Setting: 4423 and Winding Way. (They're in the same area since they were both doing repairs)
Time: Daytime. Sometime.
Warnings: Isako's got a gun. I'd be careful.

Comments

[phytotoxin]

Marluxia made his way up onto the deck, wanting to get a closer look at the Cactuars and see how numerous they were. He walked with a swift, earnest gait and took in a deep breath as he got outside. He couldn't smell fire just yet and he hadn't heard or felt the tell-tale explosions that came with a cannon being fired, but he had a feeling that it was to come, much to his dismay.

He gripped the railing and looked down at their massing foes, his eyes going wide at the sight of the sheer number of them. Unlike a good number of the crew members, he didn't swing himself down over the rail onto the solid ground below and he didn't pull out a projectile weapon to attack from a distance like his Captain. Instead, he observed. He was a calculating fighter and there was no sense in going into a fight with an unknown quantity, all guns blazing, without knowing quite what you're up against and why.

Well, they were definitely Cactuars and they were definitely out of their natural environment, there was no arguing with that. They didn't seem to be hurt in any way prior to getting to Bydan, but he couldn't ascertain whether they were on the attack from the get-go, or only retaliating due to the attacks from the crews of the two ships. For most people, it might have been enough to decide that they were hostile and figure it's time to take them out, but for a botonist like Marluxia, he wanted to know why they were aggressive and why they were away from the desert. Natural disasters had been known to drive creatures from their homes in great numbers, but he hadn't heard anything over the network about anything like that.

"Hm. For all that are on the surface, there could be any number of them underground." He muttered to himself, the attacks of his fellows seeming quite futile in light of the numbers. "Perhaps they are under the control of something else?"

He hadn't heard anything about Cactuar Migrations or anything of the like, so a beastmaster or somebody who could control plants in the same way as he could were still slim possibilities. Still, he called forth his scythe just in case the deck got infiltrated or he was ordered to help those on the ground.

[fuhenteki]

Considering this is probably the first time that the old samurai ever saw such creatures, Kambei's first instinct was to get ready for combat. These mobile cacti already proved they were hostile by attacking them first but as the resident botanist told him, these cactuars are outside of their natural habitat. It is unlikely to into an entire tribe of cactuars in the middle of the forest, so what could have lured them here all the way towards the woodland areas of Bydan?

Is this a natural phenomenon or a fabricated one? Kambei was certain that the answer to his question is the latter. The 4423 has terrible luck but this is getting ridiculous.

"If they are just as many underground as there is above ground, then we are in for a very long day." He grumbled to himself when he over heard the words of the scythe wielding man. Kambei ventured out upon the deck a little earlier in hopes of figuring out a sure fire way to defeat the incoming horde. Unfortunately, for him this idea of his lingered upon the use of using fire to force the cactuars back but considering this is a woodland area...

"This is a disaster."

[phytotoxin]

Marluxia looked over at Kambei, an eye narrowed.

"A disaster? With enough swords and guns we should be able to cut them down. There are certainly enough of us, though their speed will make it difficult for those on the front line." He said, not looking as worried about it as he should. "Are you still hell bent on trying to burn them to cinders?"

He didn't think it would work, but trial and error was something he was prepared to step back and allow to happen. He had to admit, even though it was difficult to do so even to himself, that he hadn't studied Cactuars as extensively as he had Ochus or Malboros, so although he did remember reading that fire wasn't as effective as everybody believed it should be, he couldn't quite recall what effect it did have.

He adjusted the hold on his scythe shaft and scowled down at the horde of Cactuars below.

[fuhenteki]

A faint chuckle came from Kambei once Marlaxia asked about his daring fire ploy. Despite the fact, using fire would be a quicker way to get rid of the cactuar menace; he was now having second doubts about that idea. Considering the fact that Bydan is a heavily forested area, the old samurai figured it would be stupid at best to set fire to this region.

He did suggest his idea to sailors of the Winding Way but Kambei was quick to retract his suggestion. However, the old samurai had a bad feeling that the crew of the WW might just go along with the fire idea after all. If that happens, the 4423 certainly will be blamed for burning down this port city and the lush green forests nearby it.

“Luck isn’t exactly our strongest asset but I am hoping others will abandon that plan.” Kambei replied quickly just as he unsheathed his katana.

[phytotoxin]

Marluxia hefted his blade and rested it on his shoulder. Despite the size and apparent weight of it, he the Quartermaster managed to lift it as though it was nothing.

"Now, do I want to wait here as a last stand or would it be a better plan to head to the front line?" The words were half said for his own benefit.

He was wondering exactly why the Cactuars were racing towards them, and from a forest no less, but at the same time they needed to be stopped. Urgently. He didn't approve of killing them, especially since he didn't know the reason for their flight, but if it was between them and him... well, they were going to have to go down.

[fuhenteki]

Glancing over at Marluxia again, the samurai already vowed silently to himself that he would join this fray and if the other wanted to accompany, he can. As of now, the swarm of angry plants was attacking the ship and their frantic captain was shooting at them like mad. If they chose to wait any longer to, just observe, the 4423 will be in ruins.

“I doubt we can form a solid enough plan in time.” Kambei replied to Marlaxia calmly. “I suppose killing them will be the only way to deal with them.” Glancing over towards the botanist, the samurai could already tell by Marlaxia’s demeanor that he wasn’t very fond of the idea. Nor was Kambei to be honest.

“I’ll go ahead.”

[phytotoxin]

Marluxia yielded to Kambei's point. As much as he wanted to work out why the Cactuars were attacking without having to mercilessly murder them all in cold blood, he didn't see that they'd have time to figure out how to diffuse the situation as to just put an end to the chirping, spiky onslaught.

"Very well. I'll hang back for a few minutes, to see if anything happens." He told him, more than prepared to follow. "Before you go... who are you? I don't believe we've been introduced."

They'd spoken over the network at the start of the crisis and they were together now, but Marluxia realised that he didn't even know the man's rank and position. He supposed that they didn't matter, but inquiring minds... and all that.