11.4 - DX - Coda, Part 4

[10:15] <Cherem> The air swirling around the helicopter blades is cold: as it sets down some fair distance from the repurposed building, it kicks up icy blades of winter wind. In the sky, you still have the pale of night to guard you, although in an hour or so sunlight is going to pour over the buildings and houses.
[10:15] <Cherem> The pilot steps out, beckoning to Ian. His voice is obscured by the roar of the blades, but you can manage to make up "ready to go".
[10:15] <Cherem> Behind you, Greyhound sent his subordinate along with you, to drive you. A young man, he gives you a wave, "Good luck," shouting over the chopper, "We're relying on you guys!"
[10:17] <Jamie_Knapp> "Man I love this thing." Jamie says with a grin as she gets behind the massive multichambered death dealer.
[10:17] <Ian_Goodwill> "No worries, we'll make plenty of noise as the diversion!" Ian gives a cheery smile as he hops at the driver seat of the chopper. The five of them would be a tight fight, but it's entirely possible to do. The dark vehicle, repainted and modified since last time, is ready to fly.
[10:19] <@The_Espada_> "Off to war then." Dragoon gets into the vehicle and makes a rifle appear in his hands.
[10:21] <Ian_Goodwill> On the radio of the chopper, he contacts Hanase. "Besides, I need to go with a bang for my last mission, eh?"
[10:22] <Cherem> "You can say that again: we've just started taking fire." Hanase seems to have been one of the many called in, "Be careful when you go in, we don't know what they're planning."
[10:23] <Tsuboki_Junko> "Just stay behind nee-chan," Junko says, likely to Shizuka, as she lights a cigarette.
[10:25] <Cherem> Pulling up and over the towers, you can see people moving about on the ground. Looks like UGN agents, moving to help cover the avenues of entry for their teams.
[10:25] <Kirishima_Shizuka> Shizuka nods, looking rather somber and thoughtful.
[10:26] * Ian_Goodwill then presses play on a little console, and on players he's installed on the side of the chopper, loud rock music is being blasted. He doesn't light the floodbeam, but he has a grin on his lips. "Jamie, enjoy that baby while you can, because we're about to make a dynamic entry!"
[10:26] <Cherem> Up ahead, you can occasionally see flashes from the building's higher floors. Gunfire, it looks like.
[10:26] <@The_Espada_> "What kind of dynamic entry?"
[10:27] <Ian_Goodwill> "...Just hang on for dear life." There's a bit of a crazed laugh that escapes him, his blood pumping. Self-mutilation, uh?
[10:27] <@The_Espada_> "I see ummm..."
[10:27] <Jamie_Knapp> Jamie prepares to open fire on any combatants she can find, particularly ones on the enemy side.
[10:32] <Cherem> Pulling up, you see... an entire line of windows, near the top, fall out almost similtaniously. The panes of glass hit the ground a second later, but of much more importance is the trio of smoke puffs that billow out, and the brief flash of backblast.
[10:36] <Cherem> The three rockets blast past the helicopter, and after a moment you hear the sound of explosions behind you.
[10:37] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian expertedly controls the chopper. Everything is so slow to him, all of a sudden. He pulls to the left, bringing the chopper to its side. "LIGHT'EM UP!"
[10:42] <Cherem> The gatling gun, already spun up, doesn't waste any time, spitting out shell casings as the bullets saw through whoever is standing behind the banisters, shaking the helicopter slightly.
[10:43] <Jamie_Knapp> Jamie giggles wildly.
[10:43] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian then brings the chopper around. This time, he seems to be going straight for the building with the chopper. "Ahahah! Let's do THIS!"
[10:44] <Ian_Goodwill> "BUCKLE UP BACK THERE! WE'RE GOING IN!" He seems to be fully enjoying himself. A bit too much, perhaps.
[10:47] <Cherem> The helicopter takes a dip, going with the turn it made to smash into the side of the building, sending a shock through your bones like getting hit by a car. Glass flies in all directions as the rotors smash into the floor and scatter.
[10:48] <Cherem> Inside, at least two men are crushed, and there's several shouts of alarm.
[10:49] <Cherem> There's a rapid, panicked noise coming from the cockpit of the helicopter, blaring, and the radio crackles to life, "Team, report! What just happened up there?!"
[10:50] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian is laughing and coughing, the smell of gas rapidly filling the room. "Oh man, is everyone okay?" He's holding his head, checking the seats behind him.
[10:51] <Ian_Goodwill> He is immensely sprained, but still enjoys himself, somehow.
[10:52] <Cherem> Outside, you can hear shouting, and numerous feet. Time to look alive, or at least play dead until they get close.
[10:53] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian grabs the radio and quickly answers, reaching for his P90 as he kicks the door open. "If you've ever wondered if chopper fuel can melt steel beams, well, I think we're about to figure that one out."
[10:55] <Jamie_Knapp> "Man I wish I could lift this..."  Jamie untangles herself from the minigun and grabs her submachine gun.
[11:00] <Cherem> As you stand, you see at least fifteen men, armed with rifles, dressed in matching black uniforms with facemasks and goggles. One barely distinguishable from the others raises his hand as if to direct the rest.
[11:02] <@The_Espada_> "Well Time to get to work then, without crashing our ride this time." Dragoon shouts out grabbing his gun and preparing himself
[11:03] <Kirishima_Shizuka> Shizuka stares at the attackers flatly, sporting bleary looking eyes.
[11:07] * Ian_Goodwill raises his weapon his opens fire at an alluring pace, lead filling up the air. Taking out one after the other, he then seeks cover closer to Junko. "Hey there."
[11:09] <Cherem> The men try to jump into cover, but many of them are far too late, taking bullets and collapsing. The leader himself ducks behind a column, shouting commands to the others.
[11:16] <Jamie_Knapp> Brrt Brrt Brrt.  Jamie blasts several dudes into oblivion before ducking back behind the helicopter.
[11:17] <Cherem> Another few men drop, and the morale seems to waver
[11:27] <Cherem> The first group peppers the helicopter with shots, trying to hit Ian, and the second group lobs a grenade, but the grenade lands on the other side of the helicopter, the poor crashed machine taking the worst of it.
[11:29] * Ian_Goodwill gives a relieved sigh as the shots all fail to penetrate his shield or suit. "Well, money well sp- ah shit, GRENADE!" He shouts as he dives.
[11:30] <Cherem> Behind you, the explosion starts a fire: if you aren't out of here soonish, it's going to blow this poor thing to hell and back.
[11:37] <Kirishima_Shizuka> "Grenade-san! Eeeek!" Shizuka's arm takes a hit from some frag grenade shrapnel, leaking shadow that lashes out at the thrower. She smiles despite the hit and clutches her arm.
[11:37] <Jamie_Knapp> "WHAT KIND OF IDIOTS USE EXPLOSIVES NEAR A DOWNED HELICOPTER?!"
[11:38] <Kirishima_Shizuka> And this sends the poor sod out the window!
[11:38] <Cherem> "The kind that plan on killi-" The thrower screams, leg grabbed as the tentacle sends him flying. A present for the UGN team at the bottom, surely.
[11:45] <Cherem> The first group leans out to fire, and when they do several of Dragoon's shots find their mark, sending two of the men falling down. They're at half strength at best.
[11:48] <@The_Espada_> "Can people stop trying to kill me through explosives."
[11:54] <Tsuboki_Junko> Junko takes her turn, transforming and rushing in to attack the first group with her claws.
[11:55] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian suddenly hurries out of his cover, holding a sharp looking blade! He's grinning at the men he faces. "Alright. Let's dance."
[11:55] <Cherem> The men stumble back, some of them trying to raise their weapons and bring them to bear against her, but it's not happening.
[11:58] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian slices wildly at them, running through one man after the other - he's relentless in his slicing. To the untrained, nonrenegade eye, it's most likely to be invisible.
[11:59] <Cherem> And when he's done, there's nothing left but bodies.
[12:01] <Kirishima_Shizuka> "As impressive as ever, Ian-chan."
[12:05] <Jamie_Knapp> Jamie slides on over to Ian and lays on hands.
[12:06] <Ian_Goodwill> There's a gentle smile on Ian's lips, giving Shizuka and Jamie a charming look. "Thank you, ladies. Glad to see I have my own fan club." While veins are bulging everywhere on his body, creepily crawling around him, he still seems to have the same sense of humor still.
[12:07] <Jamie_Knapp> "Still creepin me out though dude."
[12:14] <Cherem> While the gunmen blast Junko, nothing comes of it. And before she can follow through with the inevitable strike, Dragoon's bullets punch right past her and into the few remaining men, putting them down.
[12:14] <Cherem> You've a moment to get away from the helicopter without being directly under fire.
[12:14] <Jamie_Knapp> "RUUN!"
[12:15] <Cherem> Behind you, the helicopter is openly flaming: you've maybe got twenty seconds
[12:15] <@The_Espada_> "No more explosives." Dragoon shouts as he starts running
[12:15] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian runs away, helping out whoever might be stuck as he does!
[12:16] <Kirishima_Shizuka> Shizuka runs off, holding her arm and panting.
[12:17] <Tsuboki_Junko> Junko brings up the rear.
[12:18] <Cherem> And then... it's like a fireball, a great explosion that takes out the office above it, below it, and a significant amount of damage. The building seems to shake and tremble, shuddering from the impact.
[12:18] <Cherem> From both above and below you hear the panicked explamations of the inhabitants of the building. However...
[12:19] <Cherem> Now that you are inside the building... it seems abandoned.
[12:19] <Kirishima_Shizuka> "How is this right?" Shizuka looks around suspiciously.
[12:19] <Cherem> Yes, there are signs of people having slept here, and some discarded food items, but it seems very roughshod. Wires run along the ceiling and walls, and it really just looks badly put together.
[12:20] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian takes a moment to light himself a cigarette. "How odd. That couldn't be all of them, could it be? Maybe they all went downstairs to handle the UGN?"
[12:21] <Cherem> Downstairs, you can hear a loud, loud firefight. and you can hear people above you, milling around, exchanging fire. And... that sounds like an armored car, plowing through the doors downstairs.
[12:21] <Jamie_Knapp> "Maybe they ran. From the helicopter.
[12:22] <Cherem> "How kind of you to join us." In the center of the building, there's what was probably going to be an elevator shaft, but wrapping around it looks like a fire escape. The door has been propped open, and a man strolls out.
[12:22] <@The_Espada_> "How many of them do you think actually thought we would ram the helicopter into the building?" Dragoon asks
[12:22] <Ian_Goodwill> "There's people upstairs, shooting?" Ian seems utterly confused by that. "We're the only one that came in from the high ground, right?" Ian hopes that the armored car is the UGN's.
[12:23] <Cherem> He is soon after followed by two other men, one thin and gangly, carrying a katana on his back, the other one a bulky giant of a man.
[12:23] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian then raises his blade at the newcoming figure.
[12:23] <Ian_Goodwill> "Thought I heard some smug asshole."
[12:23] <Cherem> You'd recognize that smooth, condescending voice anywhere, and Sharpshooter's face gets lit up as he lights his own cigarette, metallic hand glowing. Behind him, the two men you saw picking up Master Conflagration.
[12:24] <Cherem> "I didn't expect this though. The front door was Akai's bet." He glances over his shoulder at the muscled man, who grunts and cracks his knuckles.
[12:25] <Jamie_Knapp> "How cliche.  What adventuring party does that nowadays?"
[12:25] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian then seems amused. He's visibly struggling with the virus by now. "To be honest, I've improvised. Enjoying the show so far?"
[12:26] <Cherem> "Well, it's going to lighten up a bit." Sharpshooter clears his throat, "I won't be staying around for it though. I'm afraid to say, your princess is in another castle. Rather, they were never here."
[12:26] <@The_Espada_> "...... You made that kind of joke?!"
[12:27] <Ian_Goodwill> "Like hell I'm letting you go away. You've got nowhere to run from me. I know you well by now already, Sharpshooter. You can run, but you'll only die tired." Ian has that kind of determination on his face. "You can take care of the others. Between Sharpshooter and me, it's personal."
[12:27] <Kirishima_Shizuka> Shizuka pays little attention to Sharpshooter, seeming more worried about Ian.
[12:28] <Cherem> Sharpshooter blows out a puff of smoke. Funny, you don't smell his cigarette, but he smirks, "You're more than welcome to, Goodwill." A rictus grin cross his face as he steps forward, bridging the distance between them.
[12:28] <Jamie_Knapp> Jamie squints.
[12:28] <Cherem> Both of the two men look between each other, loosening up their bodies behind him.
[12:29] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian takes a firm, decided step towards Sharpshooter. He throws his own cigarette aside. "No matter where you run, Sharpshooter. You'll be a dead man."
[12:31] <Cherem> "Big words. Funny thing, I can say the same of you." Sharpshooter stops, tossing his own cigarette down. "Akai, Aoi, this is you." He turns back to the pair, who are starting to get a noticable change in their skin color.
[12:32] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian takes a stances, ready to propel himself at Sharpshooter. "The four of you, handle these two." He's obviously referring to the two others.
[12:33] <@The_Espada_> "Alright"
[12:33] <Jamie_Knapp> "Ian.  Don't go near Sharpshooter."
[12:34] <Ian_Goodwill> "Yeah? Try to stop me." And with that, Ian blasts off at him, blade in hand.
[12:35] <Jamie_Knapp> Jamie sighs.
[12:43] <Ian_Goodwill> He's going all out with this strike - no wasting a moment, as a matter of fact. He only gives one slice, but one slice is all Ian knows he needs. From head to the groin. Perfectly symmitrical.
[12:45] <Cherem> The cut goes from bottom to top, splitting Sharpshooter like a messy log of wood. Splinters of graphical error and pixels flutter around him and to the ground as his image distorts and snaps in and out of perspective, before resolidifying with a little flicker.
[12:45] <Cherem> "... Ah, you really think I'm a fool."
[12:46] <Jamie_Knapp> "Yeah...kinda figured that."
[12:46] <Cherem> Behind the flickering hologram, the other two are preparing themselves.
[12:52] <Ian_Goodwill> "I only needed to hear your voice a little more to locate you. That's all I needed." Ian bluffs, more or less. But with the renegade, you can never be too sure.
[12:53] <Cherem> With that, the Hologram hesitates, and then flickers and dies.
[12:53] <Cherem> "That's what you expect from the boss," Akai grumbles.
[12:54] <Tsuboki_Junko> Junko runs for Aoi, claws at the ready. For just a moment, as she strikes, she looks far less human. Her teeth are sharp, scales thicker and muscles bulging.
[12:56] <Cherem> As her swing comes at Aoi, suddenly her vision is filled with the red-skinned other brother. He takes the hit to the upper arm, letting out a grunt of pain as the sudden appearance of metal petals on his skin still crumple under Junko's swing. "Shit! You touch him, and I'll kill you myself!" Seems he can still talk before he's transformed.
[12:57] <Ian_Goodwill> "The red bastard will be mine, then Junko. Don't worry too much about it." Ian seems rather confident about this.
[13:00] <Jamie_Knapp> Jamie unloads a full clip into the guy that was just saved from Junko's attack.
[13:01] <Cherem> The bullets punch past the occupied Akai and slam into Aoi, and the blue man lurches back, falling to one knee. He coughs out a quick burst of blood before forcing himself up again, "You..."
[13:03] <Ian_Goodwill> "Don't you realize that Sharpshooter has sent you to your informal execution?"
[13:03] <Cherem> And like that, he lunges forward, disappearing in a cloud of smoke, before there's the bang of a firecracker behind you, accompanied with the sound of a sword cutting through the air!
[13:06] <Cherem> "We die and return stronger than before," Akai snarls, his skin begining to glow as his body ripples with the beginings of transformation, "We will rise annew."
[13:12] <Cherem> Aoi's blade cuts deep into you, Jamie, the sword glowing green and something sticking to the newly formed wounds, like an acid. As it hits, an intense, burning sensation floods your mind: If Ian had only just targetted the actual enemy, this wouldn't've happened.
[13:18] <Cherem> On the other side, Akai's body bulges, the muscles growing grotesque, his hands turning into great paws, his face distorting as his lower teeth jut out into fangs.
[13:23] <Cherem> One of his swings flies at Junko, catching her as she moves out of the way, but the real kicker comes as he locks her arm with his, forcing her into painfully close quarters.
[13:31] <@The_Espada_> "So the more we kill you the better the fight?" Dragoon asks as he shoots a clip into the blue guy.
[13:32] <Cherem> Meanwhile, Dragoon manages to empty half a magazine into Aoi, who collapses, yet again, coughing, forcing himself up with one hand, "You bastard... but I'm not down yet!" The renegade pulses through him, veins crawling like worms under his skin
[13:32] <@The_Espada_> "So when do you go down?!" Dragoon asks with a red glint in his eye.
[13:33] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian goes from his blade to... Is that an Anti-tank rifle? Standing still, he aims at the red one, injecting himself with Black Hammer once more. "Hey asshole, think fast!"
[13:38] <Cherem> Akai turns, solidly held in place by Junko: there's no way he can get out in time.
[13:40] <Ian_Goodwill> No matter what defenses he could've mustered, the large projectile tears into him as soundwaves cut through the steel of his body. A good part of his chest his splattered into the wall - or would be, if the wall behind him hadn't collapsed.
[13:41] <Cherem> Akai lets out a roar, a quarter of his torso simply gone. His teeth grit as his eyes go mad with fury.
[13:47] <Tsuboki_Junko> Junko follows up with a swipe from her claws.
[13:48] <Cherem> The claw punches right into the hole, past the armor, earning her a scream of fury and anguish from the beast.
[13:50] * Jamie_Knapp screams, shuddering.  "Ian you bastard! Always ruining things! Always getting in the way of my life!  Sachi left because of your dumb shit! AND YOU KEEP WASTING MY TIME!"  She opens fire on her friend, her hands shaking like mad.
[13:53] <Ian_Goodwill> "Hey, what, what are you...?" Ian barely has time to react. Though he has enhanced senses, he knows Jamie - he knows she calculated so into the shot. The best he can do is raise the crystaline shield of his left arm to endure the most of the shock. He manages to do so, but the shield recoils, bouncing back straight into his teeth.
[13:53] <Ian_Goodwill> "JAMIE WHAT THE FUCK?!"A，
[13:54] <Jamie_Knapp> Jamie blinks, "Wha...What just happened?"
[13:55] <Cherem> And then it's red and blue's turn
[13:55] <Ian_Goodwill> "There's -better ways- to ask me out if you need that, fuck!" Ian still seems to be a tad in disbelief, though he realizes this probably was the result of something odd. "Renegade powers, Jamie! Focus! Stay focussed!"
[13:57] <Cherem> At the other end, Akai lets out a cough of blood, and swings his free fist at Junko, snarling.
[14:11] <@The_Espada_> Dragoon after taking the sword "GOSH DARN IT ALL" shooting another clip into the blue bastard.
[14:12] <@The_Espada_> "Are you getting up again?!"
[14:12] <Cherem> The man falls, unmoving, collapsed at the floor.
[14:13] <Cherem> At the other end, you can hear his brother roar with anguish, his mouth unable to form words.
[14:15] <Kirishima_Shizuka> Shizuka bites her lip and then blows a kiss at ye olde fallen bastard. A mass of shadowy tendrils erupt from the ground and form a conveniently placed wall of censorship in front of his body before they launch themselves. "Gooshgooshgooshgoosh...!" Shizuka says with a giggle.
[14:16] <Ian_Goodwill> And that's when Ian throws aside the AT rifle, going instead for his trusty bolt rifle. "Alright, big guy, that's lights out for you."
[14:21] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian's round pierces the skull of the red bastard, not leaving much of it either, allowing him to join his brother.
[14:21] <Tsuboki_Junko> Junko seals the deal, making sure he stays dead.
[14:22] <Cherem> The beast collapses, finally releasing Junko, falling to the ground with a thud. As life passes through his body, Junko, you can hear him murmur, "And we return..."
[14:25] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian gives in a huff. It's clear that he did not hold back this fight, with how much he's trembling and shaking. He gives Jamie a somewhat upset look as she eases his injuries.
[14:25] <Cherem> As his body falls, Dragoon, you manage to notice something: all that's left behind of Aoi is a deadman's switch.
[14:25] <Cherem> Ian, you can hear it: the sound of ten, twenty, thirty, a hundred, switches clicking and flicking like breakers on a cue, the sound of something you've only heard on weapon test ranges.
[14:26] <@The_Espada_> "GOD DAMNIT" Dragoon yells out loud.
[14:26] <Cherem> So
[14:26] <Ian_Goodwill> "Jump out. JUMP OUT."
[14:26] <Jamie_Knapp> Jamie lays on hands on Ian,  "Then runs for it.
[14:27] <Kirishima_Shizuka> Shizuka dashes off.
[14:27] <Tsuboki_Junko> "Jump?!"
[14:27] <Ian_Goodwill> "JUST JUMP!"
[14:27] <Jamie_Knapp> "JUMP"
[14:27] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian then runs for one of the busted windows the large explosion destroyed earlier - taking a leap of faith.
[14:28] <Tsuboki_Junko> "Sometime I hate this job." Still, Junko runs for the nearest window, smashing through the glass as she leaps out of the building.
[14:28] <Jamie_Knapp> "Cmon haybail cmon haybail!"  Jamie's out after them.
[14:29] <Kirishima_Shizuka> "If I die horribly I hope you read my journal and it warms your heart." She jumps out as well.
[14:30] <@The_Espada_> "Well ima just ..... DAMNIT YOU ALL LEFT" Dragoon opens a door and goes through slamming it after him.
[14:30] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian, at the last moment, decides to grab Jamies arm. "Hold on!" Instead of jumping, his feet stick to the wall, and it's with tremendous speed that he gets back to the street. He doubts he'd have the time to pick up a radio to warn Hanase.
[14:30] <Cherem> And behind you... As you are falling, you can feel the heat, an intense heat, like your back against a furnace.
[14:30] <Jamie_Knapp> On the ground Jamie finds herself in Ian's arms.  "...My hero."
[14:31] <Tsuboki_Junko> Junko grabs her sibling as they fall, curling around her as best she can and hoping her scales absorb most of their impact.
[14:31] <Cherem> The sound itself is deafening, and the roar is like a great beast of the netherworld giving one last violent scream.
[14:32] <Cherem> The ground itself trembles with the footsteps of an ancient god, and dust billows out in clouds, blanketing your forms in grey particles.
[14:32] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian doesn't even have a moment to answer Jamie - the explosion pushing him down onto the floor. Still, the moment he can stand, he tries to pull Jamie further away, if only to evade falling debris.
[14:32] <Cherem> The gunfire stops abruptly, but if anything you stopped hearing it as you hit the ground.
[14:32] <Jamie_Knapp> "You uh.  You can put me down now.  I'll be ok."
[14:32] <Cherem> Debris starts hitting the ground after, but Ian can clear the area, and there isn't a rock alive large enough to crush Junko
[14:33] <Kirishima_Shizuka> Shizuka keeps her eyes closed tightly, imagining the noise to be what Junko giving birth would sound like.
[14:34] <Tsuboki_Junko> Taking debris to the head and shoulders, Junko walks Shizuka clear of the danger zone before putting her down. "You okay?"
[14:34] <@The_Espada_> Dragoon appears around the corner in front of jamie and ian "So how you two doing?" ice cream in hand.
[14:35] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian then lets go of her, setting her back down after a moment. He waves his hand towards where they were a moment ago - a large rock and razor sharp glass being where they stood.
[14:35] <Kirishima_Shizuka> "Wah..." Shizuka just stares blankly, looking terrified.
[14:35] <Jamie_Knapp> "Right...Thanks"
[14:35] <Tsuboki_Junko> Junko reaches out to ruffle her hair. "Yeah, you'll be fine."
[14:35] <Cherem> Slowly, the rest of the world comes back into view, and it's panic.
[14:36] <Cherem> You can see people already rushing forward to try and pull at the debris, and marching right at you is Greyhound. There's a thin line of blood running down his arm, his shoulder bandaged and his suit torn. "Status."
[14:37] <Jamie_Knapp> "We're all fine.  Unfortunately, our target was never here. It was a trap."
[14:37] <@The_Espada_> "I HATE EXPLOSIONS AND BEING LEFT ALONE." Dragoon shouts out loud.
[14:37] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian then rushes at the rubbles, weapon in hand. First, partners. He locates visually Dragon stepping out from a portal. He hears Junko and Shizuko conversing. All his well. He stands before Greyhound, huffing and catching his breath. He was about to speak up, but Jamie did. All for the better, with his monstrous he looked at this moment. His veins crawling
[14:38] <Ian_Goodwill> under his skin at subsonic speed, causing a blur around him.
[14:38] <Jamie_Knapp> "Also.  I think my partner may have a concussion."
[14:39] <Kirishima_Shizuka> Shizuka gradually regains focus, staring at the building.
[14:40] <Cherem> Greyhound looks between them, glancing from Jamie, to Dragoon, to Ian. "I... see. Goodwill, you're going in the van there." He points directly at one of the support vans behind him. "Dragoon, Playback, you two are... not directly under my jurisdiction. But, who did this? Who was responsible?" He talks, already moving towards Junko and Shizuko as he does. Occasionally he'll pause, and you'll see a bit of rubble drop down from the sky where he was standing, avoiding it deftly.
[14:41] <Cherem> from the skywhere he was standing, avoiding it deftly.
[14:42] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian ...gives a swift nod. He was considering arguing the topic with him, but reconsiders. "Sharpshooter can tell you more. I want his head, Greyhound."
[14:42] * Jamie_Knapp nods "Sharpshooter and his blue and red demons.  Blue and red should not be a problem again."
[14:42] <Cherem> Greyhound pauses, turning. "Good. You will find him. Conflagration is a secondary objective."
[14:43] <Cherem> "So they're dead." Greyhound continues, looking to Jamie, raising his hand in greetings as Junko and Shizuko draw nearer.
[14:43] <Kirishima_Shizuka> After a delayed reaction Shizuka manages a response. "That's right. Their demise triggered something."
[14:43] <@The_Espada_> "Damn deadmans switch." Dragoon says.
[14:44] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian gives an apologetic look to his group, then to Greyhound. "So, that's it, then. That's my limits, right, Greyhound?" There's a bit of a saddened look in his voice.
[14:45] <Cherem> "Ah. That sounds like Conflagration's work. Be sure that Sharpshooter has nothing of the sort when you find him." Greyhound clears his throat.
[14:46] <Cherem> "It's not your limit, but... maybe you should lay down. Until Sharpshooter comes out." Greyhound looks a little troubled.
[14:47] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian nods as he then makes his way to the van, not before giving Greyhound a firm handshake.
[14:48] <Cherem> Greyhound returns it, turning to the others. "Now. We cannot express how important it is you find them. Please devote all the time you can to do so. However..." Greyhound has a quick look over his shoulder at Ian, "Perhaps, if there is any lingering business, take a day off. And that's as much of an order as I can make it."
[14:49] <Jamie_Knapp> "Maybe we all need a break."
[14:50] <@The_Espada_> "I suppose"
[14:50] <Tsuboki_Junko> "I...wouldn't mind."
[14:50] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian doesn't have much of a choice, considering the van he's in. Who's with him, inside of it?
[14:54] <Cherem> Inside, there's a woman with long, light hair, held in place with a shimmering white hairband. As you enter, you see her eyes glance over your pulsing, haywire, veins, and her eye glow. "Oh my. Please, come in, come in." The back of the van is just like an ambulance, and there's the woman, as well as a man in black, sunglasses and all.
[14:56] <Ian_Goodwill> Ian then takes seat on the mattress, in fact laying on it already, closing his eyes.. "Middleman, by the way, if you need a name. Nice to meet you. What's this?"
[14:59] <Cherem> "Refflesia." The woman grins, "I was told your strain was being pushed farther and farther, and you haven't succumbed yet. I would like to... take a look at it, if you would let me." Her cheeks flush a little, eyes fixated to the trembling veins under your skin.
[14:59] <Cherem> As she says so, the doors close, and the res tof you can see the van take off.
[15:00] <Ian_Goodwill> "In the creepy 'UGN is going to use me as an experiment way', or...?" Ian is somewhat glad he hasn't been disarmed yet. Just in case.
[15:20] <Cherem> "Sort of," Rafflesia admits, leaning over him and tracing her finger along his wrist, "So quickly... You have been using it greatly, haven't you?"