WW Resistance (1v1v1)

[Esme]

Watching the man with careful eyes, Tehri had pressed himself into the wall. He wasn't ready for something like this, no way. Practice was one thing, someone good enough to get into here? Someone Miss Cal hadn't been able to put down already? Then the man's hands glowed with electric and his heart raced.


Throwing his hands out, he did what little he could and shot out an assortment of small, fast moving bubbles. Trying to cover the air between his...yes, friends, and whatever spell induced hell was headed for them in time. Whether they would be at a high enough distance when they blew on impact. Shit, this was a bad idea...


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


Cal sneered. A deep rage coming from her as she pointed towards the exit, a silent command to her students. And look, Silas had joined them at just the proper moment. A curl of a smile graced Meido's face that leered in her mind. Perfection...


As another voice split into her head, she ripped open another portal, dropping out a mixture of things living. She didn't bother with masking them, they were lessers at any rate. She was going to enjoy ripping this man's head from it's spine. After all, Deathlind's had tact, poise, and something called grace. She supposed then it was a good thing she wasn't a Deathlind.


Hijacking the minds of the monstrosities that came through with Axel, she yanked her new army to it's feet, puppeting her dolls of death as they let out a collective battle cry.


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


"Mathias...."


"What."


"We have an issue."


Sending a glaring hole through Nar's head, he humoured him, stopping as he did. Reaching out an arm, he yanked Mini as she passed, bringing into the halt she would have otherwise had trouble doing.


"There's too many signals popping up. Too many people than their should be."


"What does that mean?"


Looking ahead of them carefully, Mini's eyes narrowed as her eagle eyes saw what they couldn't make out.


"Nightrise is here." She said softly.


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


"Are you sure you don't want at least hot water, while we wait? I have a bottle for you." Mordicy asked, looking at his Charge. She had a tight look to her, anger lingering behind what had become familiar eyes to him. She'd refused everything he'd offered her, despite knowing that there was a good chance they'd be out there waiting for a few hours, at least, in the cold. Granted, he had no idea if she really felt the cold, but all the same.


"Fine, suit yourself." He muttered after several minutes of silence, sipping his own coffee. Watching her out of the corner of his eye, she never changed position, just stayed standing, arms folded, gas mask hanging from her neck, the normally covered metal fixture to the side of her face half hidden by hair she refused to move. Strange thing, she was, when it came to standby missions like these.

 

[Riddle78]

Silas stormed onto the scene with his wand in one hand,and his staff in the other. He more felt the approaching wave of electricity than saw it,and responded by touching the staff to the ground while pointing the wand before him. When the electrical wave hit him,it went into the wand,and out to ground through the staff,causing only mild discomfort in the mage. "How about you take your lumps? Tell me your deathwish. Maybe I'll grant it." Without waiting for a reply,he focused his magic to his wand,staff,and his new Amplification Lens.


Bright blue suns formed at the ends of his staff and wand,and the Lens flared to kaleidoscopic life. Within the lens,barely visible,magickal energy ricocheted wildly,refracting with each bounce. Within a second,the diamonds set in the black opal frame shone like a dozen suns,and the precious opal lens flickered with a wicked magickal fire,and Silas pointed them at the intruder,firing a beam of raw arcane energy from each light source,with a hellacious racket,sounding like a warped electronic horn. The beams flew in the direction of the intruder,but not precisely at him; Silas wasn't through with the spell... Though it might be through with him,if the heat coming from the Lens was any indication.


~~~


Roy never ceased his advance on the madman. Sanctuary was everything to him. His parents were killed by Nightrise. His big sister,and little brother? Executed on live international television. All for being related to a SINGLE mage. Him. Cracking his knuckles,Roy barely even heard the invader's incantation. "Any last--" And that's as far as he got before he was struck full in the face with a wall of lightning. The last thing he knew was unimaginable pain,and losing all feeling in his body. Is... Is this what Mom and Dad felt?





~~~


Colonel Cutting nodded,already wearing his full armour. He refused to remain unhelmeted,just in case snipers were watching. "Zito's on the Northern perimeter with an artillery squadron. They consist of a single "Ragnarok" SPA-3250,the five-man crew,twelve elite infanteers to support,and Zito herself. Steven is already loaded and ready to fire at a moment's notice. They have a targeting solution,but have yet to fire. They might miss." The Platinum Angel pointed to the South with the point of his rather enormous sword.


"Recon's minimal. We did some preliminary reconnaissance,but couldn't get close. We can confirm that it's an old Stalin-era missile base. According to official records,it's been disarmed,but not bricked. The place has a sizable surface complex,and it can be assumed there's a large city's worth of subterranean space. It should be noted,however,they've kept the main silo's hatch in excellent condition. We can't confirm why; It's closed."





After a moment,a radio transmission came in through the Colonel's radio. He turned his head away from Hope as a silent message to him that he was listening to something. "And I just got word that the Munich operation is underway,now. The Major and his subordinate should be on the outer perimeter,as well,just in case. I think it's time we begin. Ready,Angels!?" His squad gave their assent,and engaged their wheels. "This shouldn't take too long." With that,the Angels sped off through the forest,to the base in delta formation.

 

[Coro]

Vent swore under his breath. This was just getting ridiculous. How many powerhouses did this place have? He was definitely in over his head. Not only was that first guy back from the Deathlind's Blind, brining along the Deathlind's demonic army, some prick with a monocle using arcane magic had showed up. The kids were one thing, with their numbers, but one of the Sanctuary's Meido-users, and this arcane guy from the reports Hope gave? Vent rationalized for a second. As much as his blood was racing from the adrenaline, he didn't think he could defeat two mages somewhere around his level. Maybe one at a time, but not in his current situation.


The old man had encouraged his recklessness, but had still managed to instil a bit of a survival instinct into his rash apprentice...


Shooting forward, crackling with lightning, out of the beams' paths, Vent placed himself directly in front of Cal. With a sneer, he held up his hands in the air, a little pissed, surrendering. As he did so, multiple slashes of wind obliterated the Meido creatures she'd summoned, but they hadn't come from Vent. ".... I surrender." He spat, turning up to the balcony from where he'd made his entrance, his sneer turning to a grin as he eyed Corono, the source of the slashes that turned Cal's monsters to mincemeat. "Wouldn't wanna piss off that guy. He's less inclined to fuck around than you guys are." He jeered, as Corono slid his half-drawn katana slowly back into it's scabbard.


"Calandra. Take him to the isolation cell. Get as much information out of him as you can. Use any means you want." Corono quipped, his expression not any different than usual, but with utter murder leaking from his presence. "Trainees, classes for today are concluded, go to your rooms, and help any of your classmates who are injured or unconscious. Silas, go get Yumi, and don't let that thing on your face blow up. Axel... Take 5 minutes and sort yourself out." Corono further issued his orders, sighing.


Axel, who sat on his knees with his head in his hands, weakly lifted his hand, giving a thumbs up to Corono's orders while rubbing his temple with his other hand.


~~~


Hope nodded in response to Cutting's back-brief.


"Excellent. Remember, take them alive if possible. We're planning on interrogations and public executions in order to draw out the rest of the Sanctuary members." He reminded Cutting, as the Angels began their assault. Sitting down on a rock, pulling a compact walkie-talkie from his jacket pocket, he keyed the talk button. "Call-sign Bishop, call-sign Rook, this is King. Radio check, send SITREP, over." He spoke into the means, awaiting a response from his companions.


(OOC - Bishop = Mordicy & Leslie, Rook = Zito & Steven, and King = Hope. For future reference, Knight = Jean & the Platinum Angels.)


~~~


Leaning back in his chair, Michael Jones felt his sensory magic alert him to something. Being an animal mage, a few of his familiars perched in the Black Forest were giving him odd signals back. Getting up, leaving Free picking his nose in the control room, Jones followed Haywood to the missile silo.


"Haywood, I think something's up. My birds are being weird." He notified his superior, awaiting some kind of response.

 

[Esme]

"My pleasure." Cal hissed out, gripping the intruder by the shirt, twisting one of his held arms behind his back. A snake like demon slithered down her arm, wrapping around the wrist and looping it around his throat. Repeating it within a mere moment to the other, she borderline dragged him to the isolation room. Shoving his ass into the chair, the snake tails moved, shoving forward his right hand towards Cal. Reaching across from behind him, she grabbed two items for him to see, a pair of pliers, and a sharp nut cracker looking object. Making quick work of it, she removed every nail nice and painful, before setting up the nutcracker at the first joint of his pointer finger.


"I'd talk quick if you like functioning hands."


Crack.





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


Flicking the radio up to his mouth, Mordicy looked at Leslie once before hitting the button.


"Bishop is in place and ready to deploy when needed, over."

 

[Riddle78]

When the invader surrendered,the magickal beams were already away. They thundered into the ground where he was,and the surrounding area,exploding with the sheer force of it all,showering the area with mist and chunks of ice. Silas was about to slide the beams to the invader when he realized he was surrendering. "Fine." He cut the beams,and quickly pulled the Amplification Lens from his nose,letting it hang from his ear by the chain. Upon hearing the instructions,Silas simply smirked. "When you're done with him,lobotomize him. We can't risk a leak."





He turned on his heel,and traveled to administration,and approached Yumi's office. He knocked with his staff,and said, "Your better half would like to see you,Gran-Gran." The monocle hung heavily from his ear,and a harsh warmth still radiated from it. Hmm. I'll have to work out the gremlins. Maybe some copper?





~~~


The Chief Warrant Officer sneered as Hope radioed her and the Major. Presumptuous creature. Looking at the enormous mobile artillery piece,already loaded with the HEIV. The entire weapon system was rocking; Steven was thrashing about,making a racket. "Someone calm it down!" One of the soldiers snapped to attention,and ran to comply. Turning on her radio,Belinda replied, "Signal's strong,civilian. We have ranks. Use them. You're not a soldier; You only have your office because of your father. Know your place." By the time she finished lecturing the child,the rattling of the cannon ceased. "I'm fairly certain the head of your little vanity project already gave you a SITREP,so I'll save your time." Zito looked to the South,waiting for the smoke to rise over the forest. Birds are all quiet. They probably know we're coming.





~~~


Haywood looked over his shoulder,and considered the report. "Trust the birds. Send the word out. We're on maximum alert,expecting a siege. Use everything you have to circulate the word. Telepathy,shouting,megaphones,I don't care. Just make it happen. And throw on a flak jacket,for God's sake!" As Jones left to spread the word,the dust on the floor coalesced into a humanoid form,and then became a woman. She was tall and lithe,her bloodshot eyes bearing a golden iris. She wore combat boots,complete with boot knives,an old military uniform of indeterminable nationality,and body armour,all under an armoured longcoat. "Should I make ready?"





Haywood nodded. "Yes. If Nightrise is coming for us,they know they can win. Time to play the trump. Attach it. I'll tell Hani." The shapeshifter smiled,and nodded,revealing unnaturally pointed incisors. "Of course." With that,the vampiress disintegrated into a cloud of bats,and soared to the bottom of the silo. One hour. We just need to delay them for one hour. Haywood left the silo to the fire control center to relay the news. Brazil will make an ideal candidate. They're just looking for a reason.

 

[Coro]

Crying out in pain, clenching his teeth and flaring his nostrils, Vent took a few deep breaths before chuckling in a forced manner.


"P-Please, just not my right hand, I'm a lonely man after all." He quipped, offering Cal a wide grin, his eyes narrowed dangerously.


~~~


Raising an eyebrow, Hope keyed the walkie-talkie once more. "Rook, this is King. We're special operatives currently, ranks don't exist. You'll use the call signs your commander gives you, you'll do it with a smile, and thank them for the opportunity to use the call signs they gave you. I asked you for a SITREP, send it now. Over." He had give her the vanity project line, that was partially true.


Sighing, Hope ran his hand through his hair. He'd have to sort out that woman later. She had no respect for him whatsoever. Normally, he wouldn't mind if someone snarked him, but this was a delicate operation.


He'd have to show her why, after his father's tenure, he was CHOSEN as the next in line for the job.


~~~


Jones ran through the base, picking up Free along the way.


Free's magic of manipulating sound came in handy in order to tell all the rest of the members of this outpost about the current possible situation. As his voice echoed around instructions handed down from Haywood, the base began to prepare it's defences, and personnel got into position.

 

[Esme]

She took two for that comment. Forcing the snake to bite over the wounds to keep the blood spillage minimal, she flipped the crackers forward around him. Pointing their sharpened back end at the source of his loneliness, she grinned darkly.


"Don't worry, you won't need either hand when I'm done with you." Driving the blade side into his upper inner thigh, she twisted hard.


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


Yumi raised an eyebrow. Now was not the time to critique him on his etiquette. She had more important matters to deal with. Opening the office door, she stepped out around Silas and headed down towards where she knew her husband to be, a noticeable limp in her step.

 

[Coro]

Vent's eyes widened and he moaned in pain. She was so serious. She was nuts.... And by the end of this he wouldn't have any.


"O-Okay, what do you want to know?" He asked pleadingly, clenching his good hand and unclenching it in an attempt to take his mind off his brand new injuries. He glanced down, alarmed by the amount of blood that was spilling out.


~~~


Axel got to his feet, feeling immensely better. He glanced around, noting Cal had left. Uh oh. Whoever that guy was, he was in trooooouble.


Corono watched over the children cleaning up the mess, his hands idle on his katana. He swore under his breath as Yumi arrived, turning to her with a sheepish look.


".... What conclusions would you come to, about us being assaulted for the first time, by a mage no less?" Corono asked of his wife, explaining the situation to her as he saw it unfold. "He wasn't very smart, however. When he recognized Cal as a Meido user, he tried to pick a fight with her, without killing any of the children, just injuring them.... Who is this kid?" He asked, wondering about the apparently suicidal attacker.

 

[Esme]

Keeping her grip on the pliers, she dug them in a little further as she rounded in front of him. Tipping the chair back and holding it in place with her leg, she forced his head up by the hair.


"We'll start easy. Your name, who sent you, and how you found us."


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


"If we were to be found, it is apt it was done so by a mage." She folded her arms, looking over the arena next to her husband. " He is a child, all the same. Prone to foolish mistakes and misguided intentions. In all probability an agent of nightrise attempting to bite off more than he could chew on a recon in the hopes that him finding us would allow them his freedom. " She went silent, watching the kids work, examining the destruction that had taken place, each marked with a lingering colour of whom had done it. The intruders held a familiar yellow tint. Her eyes narrowed.


"Where is he being held."

 

[Coro]

Vent sighed, letting out a noise akin to a squeak.


"Y-You're not one for foreplay, are you? I'm Vent. I was sent by Hope Astrumregis. And I've always known where you guys were. It's not exactly a well-kept secret." He explained, smirking in the face of more pain coming his way. "I mean really. Where else in the world would you guys be? Hope's an idiot for not figuring this out yet." He mocked his current employer, chuckling to himself.


~~~


Corono raised an eyebrow.





Cal's had him for about five minutes in the isolation cell. I give him another five, tops. He seemed like the kind to play around, and you know how Cal is.... Why do you ask, dear?" Corono questioned Yumi. What did it matter to her, other than some small confirmation where the intruder was? Cal had the situation under control now.


Coming up beside Yumi and Corono, Axel rubbed the back of his neck.


"If I can offer an opinion... He doesn't seem like a real enemy. I mean, he had the chance to kill me and didn't, apparently?" Axel suggested, having gleaned enough from the situation to try and come to a conclusion. The look Corono shot him, however, made him cringe and glance away, feeling a little ashamed.

 

[Esme]

Ignoring his marked comment, she leaned in closer, flicking out the tool like it was a discus. Everything about her radiated danger, and she was getting ever so much more annoyed as time ticked on.


"Why would he send you, and what have you told him?"


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


"Because something is off. I doubt the reader Jeanne gave me is malfunctioning, but the remnants of his wake are the same shade as Alec's old on the field playmate we got out a few situations. Given his status of MIA for how long now, added with the fact it's a child." She shook her head. Reaching up, she adjusted her glasses, tapping a small switch on the side to re calibrate. Nothing changed.


Turning her attention to Axel, Yumi raised a questioning eyebrow. "He had the chance to kill you....Look, mages rarely seem like they are the enemy to other mages, and I know you don't want to hear this, I don't either. Rarely are they truly, but in cases like this, I can't just open my arms to him willingly, not when he so obviously came here with the intent to cause harm, death avoided or not. "


Giving one last look at the arena, she started walking, motioning for them to follow. "What type of magic was he using?"

 

[Coro]

"He sent me to cause trouble. I don't really know why. He said what I did was up to me so long as it was distracting." Vent explained, swallowing a lump that rose up in his throat. "So, there's a couple ways of looking at that." He theorized, not coming outright about his plan to rob the armoury and stores of the Resistance and make it out a rich man.


~~~


Corono and Axel looked at each other as Yumi motioned for them to follow. Axel seemed to defer to Corono's experience in the matters of dealing with Granny Yumi, but Corono's look seemed to say his experience amounted to fuck-all. The two shrugged and followed after Yumi.


"Are we going to go see him?" Axel asked, sliding his hands into his pockets. His head still hurt, part thanks to that guy, part because of being exposed to the creatures in the Blind. Those things really seemed to love Riri. And boy did she love them too....

 

[Esme]

"Why'd you do it? It's not like we're any harm to you," She chuckled darkly, twirling the pliers in her hand. With a glint in her eye, she flipped the pliers over her shoulder, the dark purple running over her hand before she slammed long, sharp claws at the end of twisted fingers through his shoulder and out the backside of the chair.


"Well, were."


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


"Correct." She stopped short, looking at Axel for a moment. She was scanning him over carefully, before turning and continuing her walk. Fishing out a small bottle in her pocket, she tossed it over to him. Inside, were what seemed to be simple candies, iconically, one of her specialties, a fast acting pain killer.

 

[Coro]

Feeling the claws pierce his shoulders, Vent bit down, hard, to keep from screaming again. "It was Hope Astrumregis. You don't turn him down. I'm done talking to you. I've told you all I know." Vent let out, forcing his grin for Cal. He licked his lips, oddly tasting blood, the metallic taste lingering on his tongue.


"I want to see Yumi." He chirped, a glint of hope and resilience in his eyes.


~~~


Axel fumbled with the bottle, barely catching it as Corono chuckled and followed Yumi. Glancing at it and shrugging, he opened it up.


"Just like Granny to carry candies." He joked, popping one in his mouth as they reached the door to the isolation cell. Knowing Cal was behind the door with the guy, Axel glanced between Yumi and Corono.


"Who wants to take bets on how many pieces he's in?"

 

[Esme]

"You can always turn down Astrumregis, child." Cal grinned darkly, twisting her hand. As she went to retort to his request, the door opened. Flicking her eyes up, she growled low and ripped her hand free.


"Be careful what you wish for." Taking a step back, she leaned against the table, folding her arms. Her hand sizzled back, the only trace of her trick the blood still present. Locking eyes with Yumi, she shrugged.


Yumi made a noise of disdain, looking at the mess. With a nod to her granddaughter, she had his chair flipped round to face her. She pursed her lips, before reaching forward, running a finger across his shoulder and sealing it back together.


Straightening back up, she eyed up hard. He read the same as the other, but there was something much different up close, and he most certainly was not the thief of mystery she'd come to know. Too young, too cocky, and the voice...


"You rang."

 

[Coro]

"I'm calling in a favour, Yumi." Vent piped up, grinning, meeting her eyes as he was spun around. "Because I'm Vent, the magical thief of legend. Remember The Kindling Flame, the one that added decades Artemis' Sun, the one that I gave to Alec." His voice heightened, as he licked his lips. "I think you probably know what I'm talking about." He finished, taking a deep breath in, motioning down with his head at the blood still oozing from his other wounds.


Corono scowled. He didn't like this kid's tone one bit. And there was no way he was Vent. Alec had informed Corono all about the magical thief, it was true they used the same magic, but there was no way this kid could be him. Vent would need to be at least as old as Alec by now.


Axel blinked a few times. He was lost.

 

[Esme]

"Rule number one, Victor Raiden, do not lie to me or in my presence. I do not take kindly to dishonest people and in your situation, my kindness may be all that keeps air in your lungs." She eyed her three, and cocked her head towards the door. "Leave. Corono, I'll speak to you when I'm done, Axel, make sure Cal returns to her room."


Cal sneered, pushing off the table without saying a word. Sliding out between the two men, she disappeared down the hallway. When they were clear, Yumi placed her back against the door.


"So, Mr. Raiden, you are not your teacher's ghost, and favours due to him shall not, and do not, pass onto you. Please, try again."

 

[Coro]

Vent's eyes widened, full of shock and anguish at the mention of his real name. He snapped back to reality as the door was shut behind Corono and Axel, glaring at Yumi.


"... Victor Raiden doesn't exist anymore. It's Vent. So why wouldn't they pass on, it's something I did. Just, not this me. The last me. Even you wanna talk about the old man, he'd side with me on this one. He'd gladly use up a favour to save my ass." Vent tried to reason, clutching at the wound on his leg, the blood starting to clot. The hand Cal had mangled was really starting to hurt, the broken fingers turning black and blue with internal bleeding.


~~~


Axel chased Cal down the hallway.


"You're the most riled up I've seen you in a long time. What was all that about, his name is Victor? I thought he said he was Vent?" He questioned Cal, hoping if she explained it and let it out, it might help subside her burning rage.


Axel was kinda flattered she got so angry whenever he got hurt, but also it made him a little worried. Cal was kinda scary when she was angry.

 

[Esme]

"Victor Raiden sits in front of me a scared, damaged little child. You do not fool me, do not think your old man means as much to me as you think he does. After all, he's owed that favour by his five fingered playmate, not me. I did not ask him to bring it here, I did not offer my will for him to extend it. "


With a toss of her hand, she let a soft glow cover his leg's wound. Crossing her arms, she let silence fill the space between them. For a brief passing moment, she could almost hear a soft humming. With a sig, Yumi rubbed her forehead.


"What the hell do you want, kid? "

 

[Coro]

"I told you, Victor doesn't exist, there's nothing to fool anyone with in the first place." Vent replied sharply, a little hostile now that Yumi laid bare his deepest secrets as if they were common facts everyone knew. "And what am I supposed to want? I ought to be dead right now, I got caught. Not exactly living up to my reputation here." He remarked snidely, his pride injured more than his body at this point, gingerly poking at his busted fingers, cringing whenever he made contact with the blackened skin.

 

[Esme]

"No, but every kingdom has it's fall. Even the great ones. You wanted a favour, I'm humouring the idea of it. "


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


"He's a liar then, fuck if I know." Cal shot back. Ducking down the arena hallway, she stopped short at the water fountain, running her hand over the water and letting it turn red. "He found us because Hope wanted him to rile us up, and that puts us in a bad position. This, this, bastard, shows up here like he's known the place since day one, just struts up in here and thinks he can lay a fucking hand on you, on the students, all because of some arrogant, white haired shounen reject. "


Kicking the metal base, she felt her toes cringe on the impact.


"He should be fucking dead, and instead, she's compromising us more by letting him breath longer. He knew where we were, okay. I have no idea if he told them or not, and it's not okay."

 

[Coro]

"I would enjoy living to see tomorrow. Maybe the day after. We'll see how I'm feeling then. It's not looking good right now." Vent snarked, rolling his eyes, and leaning back into the chair, wondering what Yumi would want in return, or if she would even grant his request. It certainly didn't seem like he was in any position to make demands.


~~~


Axel listened to Cal voice her concerns.


"Shounen reject? That Hope guy? He sure does talk a lot, what does he think he is, the final boss of a JRPG?" Axel joked in response, chuckling at his own joke for a moment before Riri's voice in his head became overwhelming.





HOLD HER, AXEL. SHE'S UPSET. COMFORT HER. WITH YOUR WARMTH.


Yeaaaaaahhhh that's not happening.





LET HER KNOW YOU'RE HERE FOR HER.


Glancing about, Axel sighed, reaching out to touch Cal. He blinked a few times, his hand hovering just over her shoulder. He changed his trajectory, patting her head a few times instead.


"There there?" He more asked than stated, hoping he'd at least get a laugh out of Cal, and not a punch to the jaw.

 

[Esme]

"If you were actually going to die, I wouldn't have told them to leave." Yumi noted, "Though I'm faintly disappointed, I know your elder had much more manners than this and would have thought he would have passed on at least common cutesy when speaking to an older woman. "


Moving forward, she crouched down in front of him, plucking up his hand and setting to work on it.


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


Cal blinked once, then twice. Setting a wet, vaguely clean hand on her hip, she eyed him.


"You're an ass doesn't even begin to cover what you are."

 

[Riddle78]

The vampiress approached a doorway at the bottom of the launch silo. This doorway,however,was very different from nearly every doorway in the world; First,it was packed with six feet of concrete. Second,any Geiger counter that passed within a couple dozen feet of it would emit a constant,shrill buzzing as it went absolutely berserk from the amount of radioactive material contained within. She stopped several dozen meters away from the doorway,for safety's sake; Vampires are tough as nails,but hardly immortal,and she didn't want to test their resistance to radiation.


However,she had a solution to that particular issue.


There are some materials that are remarkably resistant to gamma radiation. Concrete,of course,was one of them,and remarkably easy to acquire,to boot! However,the nocturnal creature needed something better. Lead. Every centimeter of lead effectively halves the radiation exposure to whatever it protects. Six times as effective as concrete. And so,she changed her form.


It was a curious sensation,changing one's shape and chemical makeup. There are many different kinds of shapeshifters,almost as many kinds as there are nations in the world. This woman was known as a Composition Automorph. In addition to being able to simply manipulate her shape,she was able to change what she was,on a chemical level. Remarkably handy. In this instance,she vastly increased her size,and formed herself entirely of lead,resembling a hulking twelve foot tall war golem,though lead made a poor structural and armour material; Too soft. However,it served her purposes.


She approached the concrete block,and sank her fingers into the pseudostone,constantly regenerating her fingers as they flexed and deformed from the strain of being pressed into a much more rigid material. With a mighty groan and heave,she began to pull; Despite outward appearances,the block was meant to be moved. Although this resulted in a slow leak of radioactive particles,Haywood made sure measures were in place to limit the consequences of this leak. Her arms stretched,and the metal of her form groaned,but the concrete moved,scraping against the concrete floor like some ancient booby trap in old Indiana Jones movies.


After a couple of minutes,she had the concrete clear of her way,and,reflecting on the softness of lead,she shifted her composition again,this time giving her form a steel skeleton,in order to keep herself in one piece; Regenerating dismemberments is always such a pain...


Stepping into the Hot Vault,the lead vampiress moved quickly. ALARP. As Low As Reasonably Possible. The cardinal rule of working with hazardously radioactive materials. Get it done,and quickly. This way,exposure is minimized. Stepping past barrels and crates filled with depleted control rods,decommissioned or defective warheads,and even fissionable material,ready for use,making her way to the large cone at the far end,bearing a hammer and sickle. An old Soviet nuclear warhead. She found the documentation on this thing; It was one-of-a-kind. The Tzar Bomba was the single most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated. This thing packed twice the punch,and was fitted for a missile delivery,rather than a bomb drop.


The thing was made to end the United States.


Leaning down,the vampiress lifted the warhead onto her shoulder,and left the Hot Vault,making sure to shove the concrete block back into its place. The level was flooded with radiation,now,but it was only harmful if you spend an hour in there; About as hot as Chernobyl. The warhead,however... That thing was a dirty bomb,even without the nuke attached,thanks to how it spent the entire span of the Cold War to now in that vault.


Leaping up level after level to reach the apex of the silo,the vampiress set out to attach the instrument of the End Times.


~~~


Haywood the Victor. That was his name. Nobody knew if it was even his real name; Was Haywood his given name? Or surname? What about "Victor"? Or was it an assumed name with a sobriquet? Haywood always ignored such questions; What was a name? They're pretty,but worthless. A name is an obstacle. It gives people an excuse to attach things to other things. Astrumregis,the Betrayers. Deathlind,the Crusaders. Just two names that carry enormous burdens,simply because the bearers were unfortunate enough to spring from their loins.


Haywood didn't envy any member of the Deathlind house,nor did he hate any member of the Astrumregis house,with the exception of their late patriarch,who betrayed magikind to Nightrise. Deeds,not words. Words are wind,deeds are fact. This maxim is what drove Haywood. It doesn't matter what is said. Anyone can say they can topple Nightrise. It's quite another to do it.


Haywood was perfectly aware of how people would react to this plan. There was a reason nukes were only deployed once in human history. The people of Japan are still feeling the effects. Chernobyl was a cold reminder. This base stood silent testament of the insanity that was the Nuclear Arms Race. And Haywood was about to unleash destruction on a scale never before seen on the face of this Earth. Nuclear Winter was a very real possibility. Igniting the atmosphere,also. Haywood had a dark chuckle as a thought crossed his mind.


Corpses are equal.





Equality was the Deathlind's goal,was it not? The dead don't hold grudges. The dead don't hate. The dead are accepting of all. That was the line that Haywood was willing to cross,that Yumi was not; A true,permanent equality in death. But it was a last resort,and this nuke may not even bring it.


Stepping into the nerve center,Haywood noticed that communications were still disabled. "Someone get a runner out to the maintenance team on the array! I need an ETA on that repair job!" One of the guards snapped to attention,saluted,and ran off to do as instructed after a quick affirmative. Sometimes to do good,you have to be the bad guy. I wonder if this is how Nightrise feels? Stepping into the adjoining room,Haywood approached the main station,occupied by a single man. The third and only other person to know about the nuke's existence,Hani Diab. Tapping his shoulder,the bald Lebanese man looked up at his commander,and his face went grim. "It is time,then." Haywood nodded. "The Amazon." Hani nodded,and started to input the targeting data.


"T-Minus sixty minutes."





~~~


Colonel Cutting's team surged through the dense forest,consciously avoiding the old,overgrown service roads to the old Soviet base. The armoured soldiers wove their way around every obstacle,flowing like mercury on an incline,always returning to their delta formation,whenever possible. "We're about to hit the base. Cripple them; We need as many prisoners as possible. The Deathlinds are crafty,and,as we've learned a fortnight ago,have their fair share of monsters under their command. We won't know who's in charge until we interrogate them. We won't know who's a threat until we're dead. Captain van Graff has equipped our firearms with a paralytic neurotoxin round for our flachette launchers. As for our melee weapons..."





The Angels rocketed out of the forest,and into the clearing that the Deathlinds maintained around the missile base.


"You know how to use them." The Platinum Angels broke from formation to avoid the hail of machine gun fire. Klaxons sounded off. Magic rained down around them,but none were the icy white-and-blue flashes of the butcher from New York. They were a swirling,flowing pool. Gloria fired her machine gun on the go from behind her shield,while the rest simply tucked under their shields and advanced. Cutting was the first to the wall,and was ascending in a flash,thanks to a shoulder-mounted ripline. The machine gunner at the top wasn't expecting it,to say the least; Her legs were scythed off with the bottom edge of his shield,after he knocked her onto her back from the simple act of leaping onto the wallwalk.


Cutting pointed his left wrist at the woman's neck; She squirmed under his boot,still resisting,despite two severed arteries. She'll wish she died. A small crossbow unfolded from his vambrace,and loaded a bolt,then fired. The tiny needle delivered its chemical payload,immediately putting the victim into a chemical stupor while paralyzing the body,and,just in case,causing every locomotive muscle in the body to seize up,which had the added benefit of pretty much sealing all open wounds. Including severed arteries.


"All units,find the nerve center! Once we eliminate that,they'll be disorganized!"





~~~


Chief Warrant Officer Zito scowled at the radio,as if it were Hope. Presumptuous pustule. "Very well. Intelligence suggests the launch silo is in serviceable condition; The hatch is in immaculate shape. The enemy is fortified and outnumber your pets by hundreds,if the sentry garrison is any indication. We know precious little. The Hurricane will crush any resistance." Now hurry up and give me a reason to kill you,you little freak.

 

[Coro]

Vent bit his lower lip as Yumi began working on his hand. He probably wouldn't be able to repay this debt. If she let him free, he'd definitely never be able to get it off his mind how much he owed her at this point. "So you're seriously not even considering it, even though I snuck in here and hurt several of your little magelings?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. Man, she's nicer and dumber, or more perceptive than I thought.


"If we can talk about favours for real though, I want to make a deal." He piped up suddenly, seeming to have reached a conclusion in his own thoughts.


~~~


Axel smiled, taking his hand off Cal's head and punching her lightly in the arm, hoping to god she wouldn't see fit to return the gesture. Last time she did she left a bruise.


"Let's go find Corono and ask about upcoming missions. We've been cooped up here for too long. A little excursion out into the world might be nice." He offered, holding his hand out jokingly. "Madame." He said in a horrific French accent, an eyebrow raised as he tried terribly to muffle his own chuckles.


~~~


Kicking open the door to the terrace, from which they had machine guns mounted, Michael took a step out, grinning as he checked out the ones who'd set off his birds.


"You guys are wearin' some awfully shiny armor, I wonder who you work for?" He asked them rhetorically, having been updated on Corono's report on the Platinum Angels. Apparently they picked a fight with Silas' gang on a mission and lived to brag about it. Pretty damn good for a bunch of humans, if you asked him.


Waving his arms, he grinned, clapping them together in a grand motion. Summoned into the air above the intruders, began to fall an African elephant. Gavin stepped out behind Michael, swallowing a lump in his throat, obviously not as comfortable with the concept of battle as Michael, readying a wand unlike his partner.


~~~


Hope kept overwatch of the situation, not bothering to antagonize Zito any further via radio. With magical vision, he watched as two mages engaged Cutting on the terrace he'd taken. "Show me why you're my best asset, Cutting." Hope mumbled to himself, confident in his subordinate's ability to fight mages despite his mundane blood.