Sutoratosu

"Slade? Better than no one..." Mareek muttered as he made his way over. Erce kept his back, watching for anymore approaching Donphans. Luckily it seemed that the two from before had either yet to find their trail or had decided to back off after the Attack Java and Nemo launched. The mantis had taken to the air as her trainer had begun running, opting that she'd be able to keep a much better eye out from above rather than from ground level. That and a Scyther versus a rampaging Donphan? yeah, didn't usually work out well for the bug type in question. "Seems like shit always has to happen around here, right?" he sighed. "You alright?"

"I don't think so," Elemus said, looking right at the man who'd offered. "I don't speak for that woman in the corner, but I'm supposed to be getting paid for escorting this one here to this location and then back home safely afterwards. I only get my payment if she comes back in one piece, unharmed, and unsullied..." he glared at the man witheringly, ever aware of the twin Steelwood daggers tucked in the back of his belt. Hopefully this wouldn't get ugly though... always such a pain to have to waste energy on something pointless. "So do you see the obvious issue I have with your proposition? I haven't gotten my compensation because my job isn't quite done yet; Ergo, the girl doesn't leave my sight. I'm not about to go trusting some stranger with my next meal ticket. Understand?"

"First a snorlax, and now that herd of Donphans Cadmus told us about earlier..." Mareek thought to himself as the herd came into the camp and all hell pretty much began to break loose everywhere. He scowled a bit at those Trainers who had been cowardly and fled inside the cabins as he reached down and sent out his team. Each of them looked around in bewilderment at the spectacle in the camp, all giving him a questioning look, uneasy about the sheer amount of chaos. "Set up for Ancient Lightning," He ordered Java and Nemo in the standard language they always received commands in from him. The two went to work immediately, and before long, Nemo stood posed balancing a Golden, shifting sphere of energy atop his club, help up straight in the air towards the sky. He looked at Mareek, awaiting the firing order. The boy shook his head though. "No," he said, envisioning what he wanted to try to do next. "I have a different idea this time-" Erce called out to him before he could finish, nodding to two Donphans who were charging at them and closing fast. "Let's make this quick, Nemo, start rotating that sphere." The Cubone obeyed as best he could, concentrating and setting the thing spinning like a miniature globe of power. His trainer turned next to the Porygon. "Fire off as many Tri Attacks as you can at the sphere, be quick about it." Java went to work, all the while Erce was keeping her trainer apprised of the rampaging Duo coming for them. Java fired off one after another, generating the triangular fields as fast as he could. Each one he launched soared towards the spinning golden globe... then altered it's course and went into orbit around the thing, glowing a faint but still notable yellow around the edges. The porygon managed to get out a good four or five before time was getting dangerously close to being up. "Nemo," Mareek ordered, the Donphans about to run them over. "NOW!" The cubone leveled the sphere and it's orbiting Tri Attacks, then sent in flying towards the Elephants, the light from it's golden hue blinding them in their tracks. A sound reminiscent of crackling thunder combined with a small explosion issued forth, throwing up clouds and clouds of dust in the area. Mareek couldn't help but smirk... the idea had worked, Tri Attacks Electric component had functioned precisely as it had during the battle against Slade a few weeks ago... he had just had to figure out how to exploit it himself. Though, of course the chances he'd be able to pull something like this off in an actual battle was slim and none, not like an opponent would sit there and let him make such an obvious set up like that... "Let's fall back and find the others," he ordered his team, recalling all but Erce and the Mantis and Him putting as much distance between Themselves and the dust as possible. He knew that chances were, that little attack probably hadn't knocked out the Donphans, just injured them... and an injured animal was a pissed off animal. All the more reason to find someone to team up with, and fast... ((Feel free to call him over if you want or something...))

Hmm... what to do, what to do... hmmmmmmmm.... He was right, ya know. what he said earlier... his team definitely needs more Status moves... EDIT: Wait... I think I am coming up with some craziness to try...I think I'll call it... the beacon

"Probably the best advice I've heard about this stupid mess..." Elemus muttered after the Woman from outside walked away. Lucille ignored his griping though, the Mouse she had called yesterday again taking a position hidden in the folds of her cloak, gazing out at the men discretely through eyes looking more like murky pools of gray than the pure voids of black they should've been. She could honestly see why this stranger was a bit cautious about giving these guards any names. Now what did the Swords representative tell her yesterday? ah yes, that's right... "Who I am doesn't matter," She said simply. "But what does is that I was sent here by Elizabeth, Kalisto's Daughter."

SnapCracklPop, Murdoc In response to Octavia's Question, a very familiar book fell from the air and damn near hit her upon the head... along with another one, this one completely strange to her sight. If she looked down at the ground by her feet, she'd recognize the first one as naught else but Eric's Journal from the shop, the one pilfered right out of her hands by some unseen burglar. The second book was another journal from the looks of it, simple in design, bound in beaten leather with a Strap and Lock upon it's face, ensuring that what ever secrets it held would remain just that. "You lost that Grimoire there because you were careless, Girl," Zartana scolded Octavia simply. "Do not lose it again. if you do, It'll be your own problem to recover it. As for the Book bound with a lock, find the kin to the Sky Slayer, she holds the key to it's secrets... but beware for the future." With that said and done, she turned away and began walking off... and then she vanished into the night as if she had never been there at all. But she had... there was more than enough physical proof of it, namely the two tombs still lying at Octavia's feet, not to mention Aaron's crumpled form on the ground, neck rung a bright, fiery red by the hands of the Fell Seraph moments earlier...

What do you think of Chapter 2? Did you enjoy it? It was Good, Sergeant, I enjoyed it quite a bit. Like someone already said though, the separation might've subtracted from things a tab bit, but I don't really have any solution to suggest, so eh... What about my writing? Where can I improve? You're coming along well. Keep up your current work and I'm sure you'll be golden in no time. Which characters under my control feel real / which characters need improvement? ​Lana (For reasons cited for Chapter 1's questionnaire.) Redwood could get a bit more spotlight from time to time though. Who is your favorite NPC and why? Lana, same personal Bias reasons as before. Who is your least favorite NPC and why? Hmmm... Alvin, without a doubt. same reasons as before. What do you think about the darker parts I included in this chapter? (Hydreigon and Celebi) ​I'm liking where you're beginning to take us all in the story, Sergeant... Things Can't stay all clean and sugar coated forever, now can they? Which Legendary do you think will befriend your character? And why? I... honestly don't know for sure which I think would be most likely for him. The direction I plan to ultimately develop Mareek in could take a number of different outcomes with who he ultimately becomes as a person... so trying to pin down which I think would be most suited is kinda like playing Wheel of Fortune. What do you expect to happen in Chapter 3: Winter Cup? Well, I expect that you're gonna be having some things in mind for old Galen and his Hooligan Squad young team members, along with the plot escalating a considerable bit and overall, things beginning to reveal themselves a bit more. If your character was approached instead of Slade; how would he / she react? Just had to peg me with this question, Didn't you? Well, considering his history... I don't know what exactly he'd have done for certain, but it would've gotten very physically violent between him and them very quickly... Is there anything else I can improve upon? Hold on, let me think... I got nothing right now, but I'll let you know if I come up with an area of improvement in the future. for now just keep on keeping on, Sergeant.

We're going to win by not airing whatever plans we may or may not have in the public space, Soldier

((It's time we get moving)) Later, back at Base Camp... The group stood at attention inside the large canvas tent serving as the Operations Command Center, Commander Bane beside them and Commander Stone giving each of them a harsh stare befitting of a merciless Task Master, the gloves of his Exo-Suit covered in a slick red reminiscent of blood. A Technician, noticeably battered and bloodied, as if beaten, clacked away pausing at a nearby computer terminal. He looked up a few times, casting fearful glances at the Samurai, only to be met with a withering glare that sent him right back to his work. after entering in a few commands, he brought his finger on the Enter key, and up on the display popped a topographical map of the surrounding area, a blue triangle in the center representing the base camp, the boundaries of the terrain stretching out for fifty miles in every direction, forming a circle. "You're not done yet...." Stone snarled upon seeing the map. Obviously he had some reason to regard the poor IT with such malice. The Man said nothing, merely typed in another command to the terminal and hit enter again. Ten red dots appeared on the screen, representing the squadron's position several hours ago. Another series of Clacking. The Dots began to gradually move from the area a mile south of the Base Camp, the drop off point, and heading east then turning north, completely bypassing the encampment and continuing in the direction. Another Clacking. The Dots' Movements began to play in a loop now, marching to their final position ten miles north, then automatically resetting back at the Drop Off Point, only to repeat their trek all over again. A time stamp played along with the Map Movements, showing where the team had been at Each hour, each minute, each second, of the day. "Commander Bane," Stone said, turning his attention back to his technically Superior Officer. He tapped his finger to one of the Dots early on in the day's time stamp, two of them disappearing not long after the Drop Off zone. "Care to explain?" "Shortly after Making Land fall at the Drop Zone," Bane began, not missing a beat. "We were ambushed by a pack of Monochromes who had crossed our path while hunting. We dispatched the majority of them, but the Alpha Male threatened to take us all out. Ergo, I ordered my team to leave my behind to deal with it and continue heading towards Base Camp to report to you." "And where were you during the hours and hours your Squad spent walking past this place?" "Immediately following Myself and The soldier known as Lance Quiet eliminating the Alpha Male, a hunting party of Mossers arrived at the scene and began feeding on the carcass of the fresh kill. We lay in concealment for approximately an hour and a half until they finally moved on back to their den and took whatever was left with them. Following this, Quiet and Myself proceeded in the direction which our radars last detected the other's electronic signatures. We soon lost their signal's without explanation, however, and I was forced to resort to more primitive means of tracking them by their boot prints and signs of human disturbance in the brush. During this long period of tracking them, we ourselves issued several hails to Garren, whom I had delegated Command to for the time being, all of which went unanswered. We ended up bypassing the Encampment just as they had, and after approximately three hours... we encountered a group of Talkers." "Talkers?" Stone's eyebrows were raised. "Hominoid Animals similar to Chimpanzees," Bane Explained. "Their Vocal cords and throat are developed in such a way that they can immitate and recreate virtually any sound they here, including human speech. They are more commonly seen in the Colt River Valley far to the east of Esperanza, saw them all the time back during a few of my missions concerning the area." Stone nodded. "Go on." "These Talkers were different than anything I had ever seen, usually they're more or less harmless unless you happen to have food or somehow get near their young... but these ones... let's just leave it at they seriously hindered the Travel of Quiet and Myself for a considerable amount of time." "And after this...hinderance passed?" "We continued north following Chimera 1's tracks. By night fall we had finally managed to pick their signatures back up and issue a hail to them, this one actually being answered by the Commander Pro Temporis: Garren." "And what did he report to you as having caused this...fuck up?" Jace said nothing, looking at Garren with an unreadable expression, then back to Stone. "From his report, they were attacked by the Species Denoted as a 'Gold Streak', a large, Avian Beast with several Reptilian Features, sporting bone plate armor over the majority portions of the body and capable of emitting and absorbing electricity and electromagnetic fields... an ability which I believe is the sole cause for this team having bypassed the camp entirely. The frequencies and fields the Sky Streak had likely emitted was probably intended to damage or disengage all communication and navigation systems the team used... in other words, they were all being stalked for every single hour after I delegated command." Stone stood silent for a moment. "Sky Streak? that thing that assaulted the Transport... the Sniper..." "How exactly do you know any of this, Major?" he demanded suspiciously. "Because," Bane said simply. "I've personally had to kill at least three of them over the years during my previous operations in the field. And theres a whole documentation of them being occasionally encountered in certain areas by Expedition teams dating back to even forty years ago." Stone's next question was addressed to Garren. "What attacked you tonight, soldier? describe it from beginning to end exactly as it occurred." "What, you think I'm pulling this out of my ass, Soldier?" Jace demanded, a bit outraged the junior officer had the gaul to disregard his mission statement like that. "Is my standing in the eyes of the Ministry Council after so many years of loyal service the Esperanza and her people so damaged and warped that they and those under them now feel as though not even a simple Report from my mouth is trustworthy? Because if it is, then I'll happily hang up my guns after this whole mess with the outbreak is over and take my abilities elsewhere..." Another series of clacking came from the IT guy at the terminal. an audible click was heard right after Jace had begun talking. Stone looked at him seriously. "I believe you." the Samurai stated. "But this whole conversation is being listened in on by the capitol and the Ministry Council...except for this part we're having right now, starting from when you went and pretty much bashed the government in it's entirety-" "Last I checked, the Constituion provided so that the Ministry Council in and of itself was not the whole government." "Besides the point," Stone continued. "Put your strife with them aside for now, Major. They're pissed with this situation as it is; don't go starting a fire storm with them." he then turned to Garren again. "You were the Commanding Officer of the Unit during the events in question, Garren. Ergo, it is crucial that the Council hears the situation report from your own lips, not that of your CO... and especially not that of anyone with the Surname of 'Bane'. Do you understand, Soldier?"

PM sent. though I just want to know if me possibly using him would chink anything you might have set up in the future.

Hey, Captain Notus, just out of Curiosity... Are you planning on using Chris McCandless for the story at any point in the future? cause if you aren't...

Calm down, Soldier. You still have a good 14 uses for your orb, and Circumstances requiring you to use it to swap back and forth between forms won't be coming up anymore until those fixed story situations which grass mentioned. and who is to say that she'll end up believing this? I planned for Michael to have no inkling about the situation and for Mira to end up not believing a word otto says about it because of that, which would directly influence her actions when she receives the letter later. who's to say she'll take it seriously after this? it's gonna be the opposite: she will have already perceived to have been lied to about this because of this situation, so... yeah, fool me once, haha, very funny, but fool her twice? Yeah, no...she took a gander once and it's not gonna pay off right now, so as far as she's concerned, there's no point in ever going down the road of taking this particular matter very seriously again. it's called being Closed Minded. you see what I mean, soldier? I got this covered...Old Surge hasn't lost it yet.

"Is it me, or does this place suddenly look shittier than usual?" Elemus thought to himself as looked around at the run down place's exterior, actually seeing it for the first time rather than just catching it with his periphery, as he had often only done before. He had honestly never really paid much attention to the shop, never had much reason to... "Are you ready?" he asked Lucille, all the while taking note of the other woman who had already been waiting there before them. "As ready as I'll ever be..." with that said, Lucille went inside, Her employee following close behind.

Tempest The ariados which Sparky was targeting seemed to be laughing as the Electric type came at him, as if the attack was the funniest thing he had ever seen. "That's right," He called tauntingly. "Come at me... yes..." with that said, the Ariados leapt off the ground and right towards the Jolteon as he charged, thrusting out his front fore legs and aiming for Sparks' stomach...

Heheheheheheh... Alrighty then, Captain...

"I didn't blink when I was saving this damn species from Sitanas, did I?" Leonidas thought sarcastically in response to Gideon's comments. "Well, excuse me then, you young fool," He said, walking past the Turk and heading towards the city. "I'm just trying to force myself to come to terms with the fact that I'm going to soon see the only real people I could ever call 'Family' be snuffed out in quick succesion... better that I did it now, before we find them all. Waiting until after would probably lead to a sappy reunion scene..." His voice changed as he spoke, shifting from that of Stratos back to that of the Old Man whom Leonidas truly was... and there was genuine pain there. The old hero was taking it harder than any of them could ever know... but yet he kept walking towards that glinting city in the moonlight, kept walking into the fray, for he had a job to do, and he could not allow himself or the Warriors following him to ever falter...