Into the Black

Serris · **Reply #560 on:** December 19, 2013, 07:25:09 PM

Aaron picked up the unconscious Emilena in a firefighter's carry and moved as fast as possible towards the stairwell. As he did so, he fired a few shots from his pistol to discourage pursuers.

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #561 on:** December 19, 2013, 07:29:30 PM

Adrian saw Emilena hit the girder, and, as she fell unconscious, something inside him seemed to...snap. He growled, plates along his augmented arm sliding apart, revealing a glowing energy core inside it, as his eyecover flared entirely blood-crimson. In a heartbeat, he had closed the distance between himself and Aaron, grabbing him and flinging him towards Marcus with a demonic-sounding roaring growl...

bushwacked · **Reply #562 on:** December 19, 2013, 07:36:33 PM

Marcus jammed in another clip, then squeezed the trigger, emptying it at Adrian. He just had to keep him occupied long enough for Aaron to get to the car... He swore as he saw Adrian catch up to Aaron and throw him back towards him. He swerved out of the way, throwing out an arm to catch the German Shepard. While Aaron hit the ground with a thump next to him, he squeezed the trigger again, and the gun clicked. Swearing, Marcus threw the rifle aside and sprinted at Adrian.

Just as they were going to collide, he dropped to the ground and slid along, jerking out a leg to deal a savage kick. He'd been aiming for Adrian's knee, aiming to break it and disable the fox, but Adrian moved at the last second and he caught his shin instead, bringing him down on top of him.

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"Uh... sure." Axel pulled the truck over to the side of the road. "What's going on? Is she coming with us?"

Pterano · **Reply #563 on:** December 19, 2013, 07:37:01 PM

Tony remained tensed, even as the knife slid under his throat. He was no longer trembling though, and even his paws remained steady as he stared up at the top of the stairs. It was a damned dummy! But certainly not Purifier!

"Right..." Tony said in a hoarse voice. "But you kill me... you kill the son of one of the most powerful dons in the world. You really want to risk his wrath?" he asked, looking to either side of him. "Believe me... he will hunt you down... he won't stop... he won't care who you are... I'll play along... but think twice before you drag that blade across my throat." he said in a gravelly whisper.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #564 on:** December 19, 2013, 07:39:41 PM

"I'll make you a deal," the wolf agent whispered back. "You come with me to the perimeter of this factory, and I won't hurt you. Hell, that'll give you a chance to run too," he added, glancing at his Purifier outift. "I'm mainly trying to escape myself, and I'm a man of my word."

He began inching backwards, trusting that Tony would follow along.

Pterano · **Reply #565 on:** December 19, 2013, 07:46:45 PM

Tony only considered this for a second, and reminded himself not to nod. "Fine!" he said. "But not a scratch on me... and he won't hear about any of this." he responded. Maybe he could use this to get away as well... maybe rejoin the Purifiers... he wasn't sure. He felt like running straight home... throwing himself at his father's mercy and protection. Either way, his threat had worked. It was all he had, but it had worked. Being son to a powerful don did have its benefits, even though this was one of the first times Tony had actually used them.

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #566 on:** December 19, 2013, 07:48:42 PM

Adrian swore as he felt Marcus's tackle hit his shins, sending him end over end, landing in a controlled roll to his feet.
"Sorry, mutt. But I don't have time to play."
He taunted, vaulting over Marcus and sprinting after Aaron...

Serris · **Reply #567 on:** December 19, 2013, 07:50:31 PM

Aaron grunted. Even with the construction worker's uniform ó designed to absorb and disperse high impact, it still hurt.

He saw the look on Marcus's face and nodded. He scooped up his quarry and continued running down the stairwell.

Luckily, there was some light filtering in from the busted roof, so he could still see. What he didn't count on was a rusted out step giving way, causing him to lose his footing.

He swore profusely as his body pinballed around the metal stairwell. Emilena wasn't faring any better ó not that he cared. Even with his arms protecting his head, he was still going to be in a lot of pain later on.

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"She's nothing but trouble," Soren replied. He turned to Anne and pointed down the neon soaked streets. A street vendor selling catfish burgers was near them.

"Get out," he said to Anne.

Anne's ears splayed to the side. "No, wait! I can help you!"

Soren scowled. "How so?"

The mare smiled. "Any of you need something broken into, I'm your mare."

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #568 on:** December 19, 2013, 07:50:39 PM

(OOC: Aaron is holding Emilena, Adrian cant really grab her)

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #569 on:** December 19, 2013, 08:01:02 PM

The moment the stair under Aaron gave way, Adrian was in action, vaulting over a railing and landing on the next flight down, where Aaron and Emilena were rolling towards...

bushwacked · **Reply #570 on:** December 19, 2013, 08:08:40 PM

Marcus jerked to his feet and tore down the stairs after the others, the rusted metal screeching in protest. With anger, he saw Adrian was catching up again. Without registering that Aaron had started falling down the staircase, he launched himself down and grabbed a hold of Adrian. The pair careered sideways, hitting the weak railing and tearing through. As they fell through the air, Marcus reached out a hand and snatched the edge of the stairs, twisting his arm but preventing himself from falling.

Adrian, on the other hand, had nothing to hold onto. He fell down into the darkness of the factory's basement. Unfortunately, his body armour would prevent any damage from the fall, but at least he was off their back... for now.

Marcus hauled himself up and reached Aaron. Helping him up, he pointed at the limp body of Emilena. "Get her up, and let's get out of here..."

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

Axel glanced down the gloomy street that Soren was pointing down. "Is she going to be safe on her own here? And if she really can be useful to us..." As grubby as Anne looked, he still felt guilty about leaving a female on her own in this part of the city late at night.

Serris · **Reply #571 on:** December 19, 2013, 08:16:45 PM

Aaron groaned as his body protested at the exertion and abuse it went through today. He hauled Emilena into a firefighter's carry and followed Marcus.

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Soren pondered. The way things were going, they were going to need to break into a building eventually. Better to have someone who can do that with them now and not later.

"All right, Anne. You're coming with us. Just don't make me regret letting you aboard."

He gestured for Axel to take off and head into the sky.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #572 on:** December 19, 2013, 08:20:44 PM

Once he and Tony reached the perimeter, the wolf honored his word and removed the knife. "You were a good sport," the wolf smiled, handing Tony a business card. "And the government likes to reward people who are cooperative. If you're ever in a bind, ask for Agent Lupis." Without another word the agent scurried into the darkness.

His business card appeared to be completely blank.

bushwacked · **Reply #573 on:** December 19, 2013, 08:35:02 PM

Soon, Marcus felt fresh air blowing against his fur. "We're almost out." Turning the corner, the exit opened up in front of them, pale moonlight illuminating the overgrown path that lead to their car. Marcus lead the way, pushing aside the shrubs that obstructed them to provide a clear path for Aaron. Crickets chirped as he opened the trunk and turned to the German Shepard, taking hold of Emilena and lowering her into it. "You did well," he grunted as he tied Emilena's hands behind her back with plastic strapping. "Especially for a first job. With more members like you, the augmented won't last long."

Marcus slammed the trunk shut, and walked across the the driver's door. "We don't have time to find Tony - we have to get away. But if he's hurt, or he's been captured, we'll find him. The Purifiers don't leave their own."

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

Axel nodded, and rejoined the traffic. "Uh... good to meet you. I'm Axel," he called back to Anne as the truck picked up speed, following the signs to the old factory Lily had mentioned.

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #574 on:** December 19, 2013, 08:35:57 PM

Adrian fell, attempting to grab onto a railing as he passed. His hand made contact, but he found no safety from it. Instead, there was a sickening crack as his organic arm tore loose of it's sockets, each joint dislocating from the attempt. All that he had accomplished by doing so was to put his fall at an angle, causing him to land on the already-mangled arm, then roll onto his back. When he had landed, he had impacted not only the ground, but a set of rusted, broken barrels, which had, in turn, nearly severed his one remaining arm. Looking up, he saw the broken railings from his fall, ends towards him.
There was a sickening crunch, and then blackness...

Pterano · **Reply #575 on:** December 19, 2013, 08:55:10 PM

Tony glanced down at the business card. It was blank... but maybe there was a trick to it. Absent mindedly pocketing it, he looked around. OK... what next? He still had his assault rifle (he hadn't dropped it even with the knife to his throat), and he quickly moved that under his overcoat. He had to get this damn tracker out of him!

But... did he really want to leave? He stopped to think and catch his breath. Probably... but where would he go? Back to his father's? Probably again. But first things first. He needed to find a hospital and get this tracker removed.

He started walking the perimeter, looking from left to right and hoping a car would pass by, so he could flag it down and have it take him to the nearest hospital. But cars didn't really seem to drive out to this place... the streets were black and deserted, and while the neon lights of the city burned as a backdrop, the ferret realized he was alone for the moment.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #576 on:** December 19, 2013, 08:58:42 PM

Lily stumbled out into the courtyard. "Where are the others?" she asked Kojurro.

The air was silent, though signs of a violent skirmish were everywhere. Lily put her hands to her mouth in horror. "We've got to search...got to find them..."

She staggered, then dropped to her knees. She realized she hadn't fully recovered from her assault in the sniper room.

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #577 on:** December 19, 2013, 09:03:44 PM

-REDACTED-

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #578 on:** December 19, 2013, 09:37:28 PM

"Kojurro, I..." she trailed off. "I took a lethal dose of electricity in that room. That's what Emilena said. Why aren't I dead...?"

She didn't like to admit it to herself, but she had to be honest. She couldn't afford to lie to herself.

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The battered and bruised body of Emilena Echo lay crumpled in the trunk of Marcus' car. She was still out cold.

Pterano · **Reply #579 on:** December 20, 2013, 01:18:59 AM

Tony sighed as he noted the specific lack of traffic on the streets surrounding the factory. He certainly didn't want to go walking around this neighborhood, even with his assault rifle. He wondered how the others were fairing inside... it seemed really quiet now...

Plus... he HAD made a bargain with his captor, and planned to hold him to it. He just hoped ONE of these guys had a cell phone on them. He doubted any phones in the factory would be working.

Heading back inside, he began searching for the others, wondering if anyone was still alive... he knew the two he'd found in that room with Agent Lupis were still alive. But as for his captor, he had no idea on. Walking about, he began making his way back to that room, hoping he'd run into someone somewhere along the way.