Red Meteor Quest Season 2, Episode 8

"So what you're telling me is that you believe someone who works with Diamonds is the one planning to kill you all?" Sally said

"That's the general idea yes." Helena said

"And you're basing this off of what a mentally unstable child has told you."

"You got it." Saya states bluntly

"And you want me to do some digging on who would be the most likely candidate to go and find?"

"Yes,Can you do it or not?" Sadie asks sighing, she was clearly not in the mood for games

"I can...it's just...this entire thing is highly illogical, we're pretty much following the trail an insane person left out for us.

"Got any better ideas?" Sanja piped up "Because I am all ears if you do."

"Ugh...fine...I get it, it sucks, but I get it. Give me an hour."

You've arrived at Sally's tower after following the lead that Hands Off (unknowingly) gave you. Your mind is still in a state of turmoil, but regardless of that you have to do the right thing. Jane has constantly shot you looks of concern. It looks like being your secret keeper has left her feeling anxious as well, but as it is right now you can't really do much about it. What matters now, is stopping the threat to you and the city.

You are Red Meteor, and things are only going to get rougher from here. For the time being you can just hang out with someone. Who?

>Helena
>Sadie
>Jane
>Sanja
>Saya

>Sadie

You decide to spend some time with Sadie. The cop seems a bit stressed about things (but then, Sadie seems to be stressed about a lot of things) and so you hope that by talking to her, you can at least relieve some of that stress (as well as make yourself feel just a tiny bit better)

You put on a fake smile and go to towards her, the others talking amongst themselves for the moment.

"Hey Sadie, how you holdin' up?"

"Fine...well as fine as I can be with this whole situation. I mean, why does it seem like so many of the rich business owners have some sort of shadowy ulterior motive or side job?"

"You remember Hyper-Hero Force Five Season 1 Episode 22 right?"

"That's the one where they find out that the Good Look Corporation is secretly engineering biomechanical slime creatures right?"

"That's right. It's a lesson that a lot of businesses out there have their dark sides."

"I suppose you're right. Oh by the way...are you alright?"

"Er...yeah, why do you ask?" You reply averting your gaze

"I dunno, something about you feels...off from usual. Did you eat something bad?"

"N-no, I'm fine, really."

She looks at your face for a moment, as if she's scrutinizing your entire being. It's a bit unnerving really, but pretty soon she stops.

"Well...alright, well what's your take on all this? You think we've got another Koffman on our hands?"

>I doubt it, this seems more personal
>Probably, someone looking to expand their business via dirty means isn't too unheard of
>Can't say, this is all too strange to make sense of
>Other/Write-in

>I doubt it, this seems more personal

"I doubt it, this seems more personal. None of these people who've attacked us have really gone about trying to hurt civilians, it's just that they so happen to cause some damage. Especially that Tyrant guy."

"I guess you're right. That top hat guy and Smokes are whatever his name was, they didn't really try to take hostages or anything."

"Right and Hands Off lured us away to a building to try and trap us." You add

"Right...but then, who'd be so mad at us that they'd go find some dangerous people like them to come after us?"

"Who can say, maybe Koffman had some friends in high places?"

"From what I knew a lot of them got arrested too, or at the very least are being watched like hawks."

"So I guess that rules any of them out then..."

The two of you converse some more before eventually Sally calls you all over back to her with some information that may point you all in the right direction.

"Okay, so after doing some research the only guy I can think of to check out is Arnold Ryes." Sally states.

You feel like you've heard that name before...

"Whose that?" Saya inquired

"This guy."

Now he runs multiple jewelry stores in this city and he owns a few diamond mines too. He's your best bet."

"So what, we sneak in like with Koffman?"

"You could...or, you could check the man's house. He's probably got something there too."

At this Sadie lets out a loud sigh. "Great, now we're breaking and entering again..."

"Look it's either this, or nothing. I got nothing else to work with."

"Fine." You say resolutely, "I guess we don't really have much choice here.

>Infiltrate his home
>Infiltrate his office

>Office

"Guess we'll go to his office. There's bound to be some information there that we can use."

"Sounds like another sneaking mission for me!" Jane pipes up grinning "I'll do my best, don't you worry!" she gets ready to transform, eager to fly off but not before Saya stops her

"Hooold on there." Saya said grabbing Jane's hand "Let's be a bit more tactful about this. Last thing anyone wants is you sneaking in and then freaking out like you did before. I say we all head out tonight and meet up at the building. Once Jane gets inside, if she runs into anything weird, we can get in there and help her out."

"Agreed." is all everyone in the room says in response

"S-sheesh...have a little faith why don't ya?" Jane replies with a blush of emabrrassment, seems like she doesn't like recalling that moment of weakness at all. "Fine, we'll all meet up tonight then!"

With that bit out of the way you and the others all return to your homes, enjoying what free time you have, before night falls. You had gone home with Sadie, but as you both get ready to transform something odd happens:

You can't transform.

"W-what the hell?"

"Red Meteor! Realize!" You call out, only for your watch to simply not respond

"Red, what's wrong, why can't you transform?" Sadie asks

"I-I don't know! Come on, Realize...REALIZE!"

you fall to your feet in defeat. The days just keep getting worse for you. Now you can't even transform? What's next?!

"L-look Red, we can't have you going out like this...why not go to Sally, see what's up?"

You feel so...useless.

>Y-yeah...good idea.
>No, I can still help...somehow!"
>..............

Switch PoV?
>Jane
>Saya
>Sadie
>Sanja
>Helena

Sadly Red will be mopes for a while yet
>Y-yeah...good idea.
>Saya

"Y-yeah...I guess that's a good idea." You mutter getting up. Without the ability to transform, you're gonna be forced to walk towards Sally's place. Still, you're gonna need her help no matter what.

"I'll see you later Sadie...try not to get hurt okay?"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine."
---------------------------------------

You are now Saya, Crimson Eclipse (You're still slightly pissed you're just a different shade of red) and you are making your way to the address of the building that Arnold Ryes works out of. Really, you aren't too sure if this lead is even worth following.  But hey, like Sally said, you all don't really have too many other leads to go off of.

You land on a nearby building just across from the office building. It's way smaller, much smaller than what Koffman had. From what you can gather, This Ryes guy must have less money than him. Weird, considering what he deals in really. You look around the rooftop and see that you're the only one here for now.

"Hey Crimson!"

or so you thought.

"Gah! what the hell. Black, can you not creep up on me like that?"

"Sorry, the shadow powers make it too much fun!"

You silently growl, as part of you wants to punch her in the face, but that's not worth the trouble right now. Eventually, Helena, Jane, and Sadie show up as well.

"Hey...where's Red?" Helena asks, "He was with you wasn't he Blue?"

"Ah...about that...so it turns out he can't transform

"WHAT?!" Everyone sans Sadie screams out

"Yeah...look, we can talk about that later, for now it's all on you Jane. You ready?"

"Yup. I'll be a-okay!" With that, Jane flies off into the building, going straight through the wall.

"So I guess we wait then..." You state, sitting back with the others.

"So we do." Sanja sighs "And here I was hoping for something excited to happen."

And so you wait...and wait...and wait. It's been about an hour before and Jane still hasn't come back yet...

>Roll 4d100

>58,86,87,94

As the four of you wait, you're sent flying by a sudden gust of wind. You're sent flying by it, and to make matters worse, an explosion rocks you, sending you plummeting to the streets below.

"Oh goddammit, now what?!" You exclaim getting to your feet

"Well well, we meet again! Hello there friends of Red Meteor! How goes it!"

You look up to see that guy in the top hat again. Along with the smoke guy too. Your team members land next to you, not looking any worse for wear, it looks like only you were hit by that attack...which doesn't hurt your pride at all, not one bit.

"Speaking of Red, I see one Red dude, but where's the other?" Smokes asks

"It doesn't matter, and I'm a girl thank you very much!"

Smokes and Top Hat look at each other for a moment with confused faces at your words.

"Really?" They both ask in unison

"W-what the hell do you mean really?!"

Top hat is the first to speak "Well uh, you don't really carry yourself like a woman would."

"WHAT?!"

"Yeah, you seem more like a dude, you ain't pulling our leg are ya?"

You can hear the other 3 snickering behind you, and this serves to only further your rage.

"I mean, the orange one, we know that's a lady. Rack like that? How could ya not?" Smokes continues "But you..."

"I'll have you know I'm bigger than Orange Sun!"

"I doubt that."

"Oh fuck you!!!" you roar at him

>Roll 4d100

>92,59,61,53

You don't waste any time, and whip out your Taiko drums. You are far to angry to to care about pain right now, and you leap at the two of them. The two once more shoot out some wind and explosions, sending your allies flying back, but somehow, you get through and land right next to them.

"Aw crap, take hi-er her out!" Smokes yells

Before they can react, you slam  your taiko drums on the rooftop,causing a small tremor that makes the two lose balance. You slam your Taiko drums into Smokes's chest, causing him to go flying towards the ground. As for Top Hat, you deliver unto him the same treatment.

"Fuck you assholes, I'll tear you apart!"

You are angry. You haven't felt this angry since  your fight with Jane all those months ago.

The rage builds.

Helena rises to her feet, surprised at what she's seen.

"I didn't think she was that strong..."

"Yeah...doesn't she seem a bit too angry?" Sadie asks

*Saya has entered rage mode! Remember, she now takes a -10 to all attacks, but if she hits, BOY WILL SHE HIT!

>4d100+10 for everyone  (except Saya, who has -10)

>86,83,75,98
>11

Your anger still engulfs you so much so to the point that you don't pay any attention to what is going on around you. You leap at the two men, with the full intent of taking their heads off. You slam the earth, sending the two men fllying up from the tremor, to which they use to reorienate themyselves, thanks to Top Hat's wind abilities

"I've got them!" Smokes yells, spitting out some smoke to try and choke everyone, before tossing something into it to cause it to explode.

Your allies are fine for the most part, Sadie shooting at them with her gun, Helena, keeping people healed up, and Sanja attempting to toss Shadows at them? That's weird, but you don't care. You move in to attack them, as they touch the ground. but just as you do, Smokes tosses something at you.

It's a cigar...and with all the smoke around you you can't escape the blast. Time seems to slow as you see the explosion go off in front of you...only for you to be pushed back by something.

You look up to see Jane, she saved you, but the explosion engulfs her, and you see sparks fly from her body. Her body goes flying towards another roof and  well over it, leaving her fate unknown for now.

"Orange Sun!" Sadie calls out

"Shit...White Mooon, can you get to her?"

"Y-yeah, Just keep me covered!" With that she rushes off after your friend, leaving the fight 3 on 2 for now.

"I'M GOING TO TEAR YOU APART!!!!!!" You roar at them, so angry are you, the very earth ripples all around you as if scared of what fury can be wrought by you

YOUR RAGE HAS REACHED A POINT YOU NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE

Saya is very angry now -20 to rolls, but hitting an enemy will probably incapacitate them for a good while

>roll 2d100+10 and 1d100-20

>58-20=38
>54+10=64,80+10=90

They hurt Jane. They hurt your friend. Your kinda-sorta girlfriend (you're still not 100% sure yet)! They are dead!

DeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDeadDead.

The words permeate your mind as you recklessly charge at them. You swing your taiko drums with reckless abandon, all in the hopes of hitting at least one of them. But  your attacks are wild, wide, and worst of all predictable. The two men, easily dodge, and both of them deal some heavy blows to your body. Not helping things is Sadie trying to open fire, but the smoke obscuring her as well as your body getting in the way.

"Crimson, you have to move! I can't get a clear shot!" She calls out to you, but you don't listen, you continue trying to attack until another explosion knocks you away, sending you flying back towards Blue. Thankfully, Sanja catches you both with a shadow hand, but you desperately want to be free of it so you can hurt them!

"Damn, we're backed against a wall against these two...what do we do Blue?" Sanja asks

"I'm not sure, we have to hold out until White can get back..."

"HOLD IT!!!" Comes a booming voice from above you. Everyone looks up to see a pair of feet coming towards the ground. They touch the ground, causing large crater to form.

"WHO SAID YOU COULD START THE FIGHT WITHOUT ME?!"

"Oh crap..." Smokes mutters "It's..."

"THAT'S RIGHT! THE TYRANT HAS COME TO JOIN THE BATTLE. NOW ALL OF YOU...!

ENTERTAIN ME!!!

>To Be Continued