(Posting out of order for a very specific reason. This is not a habit, nor do I intend for it to become one.)

As the other pairs left, the soldier and the demon started forward, watching the two blue-armored batarians... Wait. There it was.

They could see it: the red glow in their peripheral vision. Hear it: The very dim sound of a fire burst.

Both traded glances at that. Though Azumi's gaze was invisible behind her helmet, Isaac's anger and worry were just barely hidden. Yes, he argued a lot with Cheryl, but they both knew they cared for each other.

"Is that...?" the soldier asked, receiving a nod in return. She had a decision to make now. She waved for Isaac to follow her, walking toward where Cheryl and Kalas had gone, her VISR still up, looking for their green marks... nothing. She scowled, listening...

[size=1]"I am so very glad to have tracked you here, Azumi Emily Ian. Because of you, I now have what I truly need..."[/size]

Both of them could pick that up, that and the laughter and the fire burst from down an alleyway. They shoved aside random natives, getting grunts of annoyance from a few, but no comments. Running, running....

...nothing. They were gone. Isaac glared angrily around, looking to Azumi at last. He scanned into her heart, going quick for what he could, surface emotions, then a little deeper, memory of Fatuus... yes, he was right about the Collective, though he didn't think about what capacity, not caring then or even now... okay, she was clean. She knew nothing about Fatuus tracking her here, truly wanted to fight, but couldn't do very much in... whatever capacity she was working in.

"You, sir, are a blight!" he heard a shouting batarian on a podium surrounded by humans, not necessarily aiming at him. Not exactly [i]wrong[/i], but he was busy.

The demon could tell her confused face at him staring at her, then the annoyance, though more of a feeling than anything shown or stated. That was the general attitude. Or creeped out. "Tell them we're leaving. I'm not letting him get away. I'm getting backup."

"But what about--?"

"Figure it out, dammit. I'm going to get to work, so you get over there and try your best on [i]your[/i] end, and I'll save the princess and Cheryl with the cavalry if we're lucky enough." Before she could even respond, he was storming off, shouting to a salarian and a volus. "Out of my damned way or I'll make my way out." The glare seemed enough, for they split up a bit for him to get through, on his way.

Kira's voice was audible widely by those with communicators, as per usual. [i]"Calling in on all channels. We've got a bit of a situation, but we'll handle it. Zero, T'Zumo, you two are in charge. I expect a full report on what's happened and who's with you and in what capacity, et cetera et cetera, when we meet up again. Until then, over and out."[/i]

Azumi could hear the sound of a dispersal from the world, the universe, but didn't care, not even for the surprised tilts of the head a few turians were giving. She stormed through as well, off to the traditional save point near one of the exits to a ship... and spoke as well into her comm. "You heard her, people. Clean this up and fix it, and we'll see how it goes from here. Huntress, over and out." And she, too was gone in a beam of light.

The Collective had betrayed her, had broken her conditions. She was within her right to strike back, but she would have to consider the how and when. She had made a bad call as a commanding officer, and paid the price. Something she had to make sure never to do again. One thing was for certain.

If she worked right, Ignis Fatuus was about to have a [i]very[/i] bad day.

(And I'm out of this. I'll try to help organize, but that's the entirety of my control of characters here. For my characters and Adri's, the next topic is "Dark Chest of Wonders" in Gummi Space.)