The Emporium [open]

[psychomachy]

The only warning was a burst of sickly light -- backwash from a teleport -- before the midday crowds were savaged.

A pink-haired reploid in violet armour tore through the Emporium's court, lashing out at anything and anyone in reach with a toxic-looking beam-sabre before clutching at his head and howlingThen straightened suddenly, eyes burning

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[denied_destiny]

Zero was out on patrol and the first one to respond. Teleporting into the area, he was quickly shoved back with the wave of people rushing to get out of the area.

He caught a glimpse of violet and pink and jumped to a guess.

"Nightmare?!"

A hand quickly moved to grab his saber, but Zero stopped short. Too many people so close, it was too dangerous. He began dashing forward through the crowd and towards Nightmare.

[denied_destiny]

Zero came to a stop, close, but still a safe distance from the two.

"Nightmare! Please, listen to us!" He was a bit relieved to see Axl, but the seriousness in his voice didn't fade, "Just relax, okay? We want to work with you. Not against."

[vanishednpcs]

"Hold your fire!" the unit leader shouted when Axl teleported in. Damn, of all the times and places for another person to show up. They didn't want to shoot Axl by accident if Nightmare moved.

Of course, the leader didn't tell any of his unit members to lower their weapons, either. To Nightmare, he said, "If you stand down now, I promise you won't be hurt."

Somewhat placated, the young man hung back behind the Defense Force officers. He didn't want to get in their way, but he didn't want to leave until the situation had been resolved, either.

[shattered_axl]

Axl's eyes darted from Nightmare to the Defense Force, to Zero, to the guy who looked like X, then right back to Nightmare. He pulled back a bit, warily putting a little more distance between himself and Nightmare's saber. "I don't understand," he said. "What are you saying, Nightmare?"

[psychomachy]

On edge -- or even more so -- the Zero Nightmare snarled and edged a few paces away from Axl, only to circle back again as his gaze fell on Zero.

He was obviously feeling trapped, and ready to lash out at anything that came too close.

"I didn't ask for this! I didn't ask to be gutted like an animal!"

"Stop calling me that DIE HUNTERS --"

And he was lunging after Zero again; practically frothing, and looking almost frantic.

[denied_destiny]

He was ready for this kind of reaction. Zero slashed at Zero Nightmare to meet his saber with his own to block and held it there.

"It's who I want to talk to. Let me SPEAK TO HIM!"

[vanishednpcs]

It was quickly becoming obvious that Zero knew more about the situation than the Defense Force did. The unit leader tensely watched Zero and Nightmare, weapon raised and ready to use if necessary. "What exactly is going on here?" he demanded.

[shattered_axl]

As Zero Nightmare lunged forward, Axl was lunging, too, trying to catch him from behind and hook his arms around the other's to keep him from escaping or attacking.

"No!" he shouted. "Nightmare, snap out of it! This isn't like you!"