[Earth][O/C/2nd/4th/9th/10th/13th] Week 326: Operation Dying Light

[K3]

Not an instant after the cheshire man seemed to finish his sentence, something appeared to demolish the very ceiling he occupied. A shower of rubble crashed down around Haru, and the sound of gathering chain accompanied the calamitous noise of destruction.

Arano was revealed, overcoat unbuttoned, grasping at a length of chain with both hands. One remained at his waist, the other was outstretched in the direction of the newly presented antagonist.

"Puppeteers." The Director sneered, the ire in his stance evident. The smoke cleared, revealing a view up to the next floor and no sign of the cheshire man.

Kairososhi filtered static into the minds of the gathered Cerberus and Orpheus agents. He's already played his hand. The indigestion he's referring to is likely some means of killing the civilian. Masato, be the good cop.

"If you're not one to get your hands dirty," Arano started, voice low and eyes dashing to and fro, "why carry are you carrying a knife?"

[ 162 / 465 ]

 

[MoonlitRain014]

While all of these exchanges were going on, Zakki began edging his way up the wires, slowly working himself into a place where he could make an attack if necessary. He only wished they'd been fighting beforehand so that he was ramped up to the point that he could render himself invisible. However there was no choice in the matter. He hoped that their new interlocutor would stay distracted by Arano and Masato so that if he did need to assault the man with his radiant release, it would be eminently possible. He slid around the other side of the steel cables and began moving as quietly as possible, using his post-human strength to haul himself up with stealth. Even so, his arms and shoulders burned with the effort of keeping silent. Now he was in position to strike if need be.

[142/898]

 

[Several Zombies]

The General's expression soured as the roof caved in behind the bulbous, bespectacled man, brought down by his young cohort's post-human power. Cocking an eyebrow as the boy's disembodied voice resounded within the confines of Masato's mind, the gunslinger gave a dry scoff.

"This ain't Hollywood, kid," the grizzled agent barked in a frustrated tone. "...We don't have time for this!"

With a flex of his legs, the agent thrust himself upwards towards the parted elevator doors. Time seemed to slow as he ascended, coming face to face with the chubby office worker. The man raised his arms defensively, every movement appearing torpid and exaggerated to Masato's reiatsu-bolstered senses. Twisting around, the gunslinger brought his hand upward, striking the man's crossed arms with the butt of his palm. Spiritual energy poured from Masato's form as his hit landed, rapidly displacing the air between Haru and himself with a dull 'whomp', sending the bulbous man tumbling back down the hallway and away from Masato as the General landed heavily on the upper floor.

Drawing one of his weapons, the agent leveled its barrel with the chubby office worker, while his other hand gripped the handle of his second, holstered revolver firmly, waiting for the second man to show himself.

Focusing his mind, Masato stained to locate the man's reiatsu signature amidst all the 'noise' created by himself and his allies. Slowly, a trail began to form in his mind, his amber eyes following the red-haired man's movement through the building before, with a small grin, the gunslinger spoke.

"Got you."

Drawing his second weapon, the mighty form of Sanzoku once again wreathed his twin revolvers, the massive glowing barrel settling on a seemingly empty spot on the ceiling down the hallway. Reiatsu flared as the cylinder of his weapon lurched over, glowing a deep red. With a press of the trigger, the very air before Masato was set ablaze, a massive pillar of fire spewing forward and punching a circular hole clean through the ceiling and into the upper floor.

"Damn," the General grunted with a hint of disappointment in his voice. "...Missed."

stuff

Jumped up to Haru's level and used Bullet Time + Force to knock him back down the hallway. Following that, used Gumshoe to try and track Shade and take a potshot at where he may have been, with no luck (yet). Keep in mind Masato's not aiming where civilians are, and yes, there are civilians in the building still. Lets try to keep the destruction to a minimum here.

 

[Several Zombies]

The red-haired man's smirking visage once more emerged from the crumbling concrete and rebar overhead, emerald eyes staring balefully at the forces assembled beneath him.

"Tisk tisk, General," the intruder chortled. "...It seems you're not as good as they said you were."

His eyes turned to the Indigo haired boy to Masato's side, and then to each of his compatriots; the lanky Cerberus agent, the greenhorn, the Vizard. The man's cheshire smile grew as he evaluated the rag-tag group mentally.

"I was expecting so much more. Disappointing." he chuckled lightly, more of his body beginning to emerge from the ceiling above. "...It would be so simple to--"

The man stopped mid-sentence, his mouth half-open. Emerald eyes darted to his side quickly, and then back to the group. Letting out a short sigh, the fiery-headed man waved a hand dismissively.

"...Seems we've got what we came for."

Slowly, the intruder slipped from the concrete bulkhead, turning and landing on his feet with a soft thump. Trotting over to his pudgy prisoner, the suited man extended a hand down to him.

"You've done well Haru." he grinned, looking over his shoulder at the assembled forces behind him.

"Y-You'll let me go then?" the fat businessman sputtered, taking the intruder's hand and pulling himself shakily to his feet. "...You'll get this thing out of me?!"

"Yes...", the red-haired man smiled, pulling the hostage in front of himself roughly. "...In a manner of speaking. I've got one last job for you."

Extending an arm back, the fiery-headed man struck out with inhuman speed and strength, driving his fist into the man's gut. A split second passed where the businessman's blubbery girth seemed to resist the force, before, with an ear-splitting bellow, the man was sent flying; skidding and tumbling back down the hallway towards the group.

"N-No! D-Dont!"

Reaching a hand into his pocket, the red-haired intruder grinned maniacally.

"Well done, Haru."

A muted thump sounded as the explosive device the businessman's captors had forced him to ingest detonated, showering the group with viscera and entrails.

Covering his face with his arm, Masato shut his eyes tightly as the wave of red splattered over him, with a string of curses spat out through gritted teeth. When the smoke cleared, there was no sign of the red-haired man.

"Goddamnit!" the gunslinger roared, his eyes darting around aimlessly. Post-human senses struggled to pick up any trace of their foe. The man had well and truly disappeared.

They got what they came for..?

The group stood in silence for a few tense moments, many not even attempting to clear themselves of the gore that had splattered on them. A moment of pure shock and dismay that was ended, mercifully, by a hiss of static through Masato's com. The voice of Colin Healy broke through the interference, informing the General of their success in re-establishing the SIREN network.

Pressing a finger to his communicator, the gunslinger took a moment to compose himself before speaking.

"This is the Sougi Team," he breathed, his voice quaking with barely contained rage. "...We've failed."


FINAL: 2,028