Into the Black

bushwacked · **Reply #460 on:** November 28, 2013, 06:26:29 PM

Axel knelt down and poked his head cautiously through the hole in the floor when he heard Kojuuro speak. When he saw it really was clear, he dropped down after them, his trainers skidding in the blood pooling around the bodies. Axel shuddered and gripped the pistol tighter, then forced himself to look around at the room. They were standing in the kitchen, which meant that just down the corridor was the door that to the outside... to the workshop and, hopefully, Soren.

"Come on, let's keep moving!" he urged, stepping gingerly back to make room for Lily and Emilena to drop through.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #461 on:** December 01, 2013, 10:35:44 AM

Emilena dropped down silently, katana drawn. Lily tried to emulate her but fudged the landing and went tumbling into a wardrobe with a crash.

"Wonderful..." Emilena sighed. "Now, we've got to find Mr. Almaya before they kill him. We can do this stealthily, or quickly. I'm open to suggestions. Has anyone ever even been in this house before?"

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #462 on:** December 01, 2013, 01:16:26 PM

Adrian shook his head, looking around the room.
"Never been in here. But I think we need to be stealthy. We make too much noise, and Soren is as good as done for."
He said gently, tail touching Emilena's. Kojuuro chuckled, flicking the blood off of his blade...

bushwacked · **Reply #463 on:** December 01, 2013, 05:27:02 PM

"Yeah, we were both here this morning," Axel said as he gently helped Lily up to her feet. "I think they're keeping him in the workshop, and that's just outside, around the back. We have to cross the courtyard to get there, though."

He swallowed. "I think we need to go at them quiet but fast. If they see us crossing the yard, they'll kill him."

(OOC: Is this taking place at night or daytime?)

Serris · **Reply #464 on:** December 06, 2013, 05:59:05 PM

(OOC - I'll say it's taking place at early evening.)

Soren watched as the sun sank beneath the smoggy horizon amd the automated streetlights began to come on.

The pain from the groin kick ó and the distressingly happy expression on the faces of the two thugs ó reminded him that if Emilena and the others didn't get to him soon, he was dead.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #465 on:** December 07, 2013, 01:41:16 AM

Emilena nodded. "Right. Then let's make this tactical. Kojurro, I want you on sniper duty. Sneaker boy and Nostradamus, get that unconscious woman from upstairs, then bring her after us. Adrian, you and me are going ahead. We're doing this like in the Electric Sheep, only this time we can kill people from the beginning."

Sheathing her katana, she began slinking across the courtyard. She was never one to waste too much time.

"Who made her leader?" muttered Lily to Axel, making sure Emilena couldn't hear her.

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #466 on:** December 07, 2013, 03:05:07 AM

Adrian smiled back at the pair, ears twitching.
"She's the most experienced at team tactics. Kojuuro and I have a little knowledge of small units, but we're both used to working with full combat squads. So we'll play this her way, since she should be the best at this."
He chuckled, sheathing his blades and running off after Emilena. Kojuuro nodded, unslinging a large rifle from his back and checking the ammunition.
"That's correct. Were you two military or contractors, then perhaps I could be more valuable tactically, but as it stands, she will be the best suited to running this. Plus, she's doing you two a favor, making sure that you guys aren't in combat. Her and her brother, they can handle themselves. Let's go."
He said softly, moving towards the stairs with a terse, focused expression...

bushwacked · **Reply #467 on:** December 07, 2013, 06:16:35 AM

Axel blinked as Kojuuro moved past him, then turned to Lily with a shrug. "I guess that's why. Come on, we don't want to keep Grandpa Rambo waiting," he said with a small smile, starting to make his own way to the stairs.

Once they reached upstairs, Axel tucked the pistol into the back of his jeans and stared down nervously at the crumpled figure in the doorway. "Holy crap, Emilena really messed her up." He glanced at Lily and Kojuuro. "Do we... tie her up?"

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #468 on:** December 07, 2013, 07:07:40 AM

Lily tried not to look at the body too much. "I don't know if she could put up much of a fight even if she were awake..." she muttered. Regardless she searched around and found some rope. "Lets not keep them waiting...brother and sister, you said?"

---------------------------

A lone thug guarded the back entrance to the workshop. Emilena slinked as close as she could, then dove forward in a combat. In less than a second she leapt to her feet and swung the blade at the man's neck.

All of a sudden she felt powerful volts of electricity course through her body, some sort of defensive mechanism in his skin. She grunted and began involuntarily spasming. Luckily her cybernetic hands weren't so easily incapacitated, and the blade drove into the man's neck, decapitating him.

She hit the ground with a wince. "Dammit, they're gonna have heard that, dammit dammit dammit..." she tried to stagger to her feet but her body was still shaking.

The thuds guarding both other entrances to the workshop came rushing, wielding high-powered rifles. In seconds, they'd see her, and their orders were to shoot intruders on sight.

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #469 on:** December 07, 2013, 11:35:39 AM

As one of the guards rounded the corner, a sharp report sounded as Kojuuro fired off a single round into the first guard's throat, silencing him as Adrian stepped in front of Emilena, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her to her feet as he grabbed a throwing knife from his coat and throwing it at the other guard.
"C'mon, Emilena. Let's get you up. We can't just lay around here all day. As much as I'd love to lay around with you."
He chuckled, kissing Emilena's cheek lightly...

Nick22 · **Reply #470 on:** December 07, 2013, 03:02:59 PM

marita and the other girls had woken up around 5, and were getting ready to go out to search for the others. it was abot 630 now, the girls had showered and dressed, and wee doing one last check to make sure they hadnt forgotten anything.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #471 on:** December 07, 2013, 03:17:02 PM

Emilena took a few deep breaths to calm herself. "Thanks..." she muttered, not something she said often.

Creeping into the house, she peered through a crack in the door and saw that the two thugs holding Almaya were already aware of their presence.

"Not another move," one growled, holding a knife up to Almaya's throat. "Or he dies."

"I'll offer you the same deal," Emilena replied coolly. "We've killed the rest of your team, bar one. A female, we're bringing her here now. I propose a simple hostage exchange. We can all get out of this alive."

bushwacked · **Reply #472 on:** December 07, 2013, 05:18:04 PM

Axel dragged the now thoroughly trussed woman down the stairs, huffing as he tried to hold her under the arms. She was much heavier than she looked. As they reached the bottom of the stairway, he looked curiously at Lily. "So how long have you been able to do that... super power thing?" Grinning, he added, "I'm not complaining, you did basically save my life twice today because of it."

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #473 on:** December 07, 2013, 06:08:50 PM

Adrian smirked, hand tensing on his sword.
"You won't let him go. I know that. After all, you bastards hired a sweeper to take down your sniper. Hell, I'd be surprised if your bosses intend to let you leave alive."
He taunted, drawing the two thugs attention as Kojuuro moved to another vantage point with a view on Soren and the thugs...

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #474 on:** December 07, 2013, 07:16:58 PM

Emilena glanced sideways at Adrian for a split-second, then decided good cop/bad cop was as good a strategy as any. She wasn't used to being the good cop though.

"However, we may be able to help you with that. We have an excellent witness protection program." She flashed her police badge. "If you hand Mr. Almaya over alive, your worst verifiable crime is breaking-and-entering...with my help."

--------------

"I've never been able to do that," Lily shook her head. "I don't understand it. I don't know why it happens..."

She stumbled as they dragged the body across the courtyard, and the body's hand got hooked on her shirt. For a second, her tattoo was revealed to Axel...and it was now a seven.

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #475 on:** December 07, 2013, 07:29:12 PM

Adrian smirked.
"You see, if you drop the knife and walk away, then you'll live. Otherwise, you'll end up getting betrayed by your own so-called allies, left to take the fall for this. They'll have one of their snipers drop you before they leave. They get away scot-free, and you'll end up dead."
He said calmly, tensing up on his sword. Kojuuro had moved to a spot with a clear view of the area, steadying his rifle with a calm smirk...

bushwacked · **Reply #476 on:** December 07, 2013, 07:58:56 PM

"Well, "Axel grunted as they pulled the limp body along, his ears creasing as he pciked up the raised voices from the workshop. "I'm glad it happened when it did." As Lily suddenly stumbled, he quickly tightened his grip so the woman didn't crash to the floor. "Hey, are you alright..." His breath hitched in his chest when her shirt caught and the tattoo was exposed.

Axel stopped in his tracks. "Lily, it's... it changed again." His eyes widened as he tried to understand what was going on.

Serris · **Reply #477 on:** December 08, 2013, 03:35:35 AM

The thug looked at Emelina and Adrian and then at Soren. He scowled.

"Fine, take him." He threw Soren at Emelina and Adrian. "Just so you know, we're not through with you, Almaya."

Soren grunted as he landed roughly on a piece of rubble.

The other thug spoke up as he glared at Adrian. "This isn't the last of us, Cyhead. We're coming for you and your Gleamer buddies!"

One of the thugs none too gently grabbes the injured woman and with his companion in tow, quickly ran off into the rapidly darkening streets.

(OOC - Cyhead --> "Cyberhead" --> an insulting term for someone who works on augmentations.)

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #478 on:** December 09, 2013, 01:11:44 PM

Lily, who was silently freaking out about the tattoo thing, swallowed deeply and focused on Soren. "Are you all right?" She asked, kneeling over him.

"All things considered, that went comparatively well," muttered Emilena. She glanced at Adrian. "Good thinking on the routine. I think that was what got them. Hopefully they haven't bugged Mr. Almaya. With your permission Soren, I'm trained in full body cavity searches..."

bushwacked · **Reply #479 on:** December 09, 2013, 05:12:12 PM

Axel was still shaken by Lily's changing tattoo, but nonetheless grinned when he saw that Soren appeared unharmed. "I'm glad you're okay Soren," he said, making his way over. He winced when he heard Emilena's offer. "Well? Are you tempted?" he said as he extended a helping hand down to him.