[Event Log] Mission #202 - Tegucigalpa

[soul_mods]

Characters: OPEN to those who signed up for the mission here, assigned to Tegucigalpa
Location: Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Rating: Varies
Time: May 29th
Description: It's an evacuation! Get people out of there and keep the kishin eggs off of them!



The resort city of Tegus isn't doing so well. You can see the relief in the eyes of the local police when they see help has arrived, help that can actually deal with the strange monsters raising hell in the streets.

But nobody can rest easy yet. Even in a city of lovely as this, the kishin eggs - much less the witches - see no need to take care of the historical buildings and tourist spots, choosing instead to mark the old buildings with their claws and magic when they aren't hunting down and torturing fleeing, terrified civilians.

Help get them out of there and on their way to the safe zone- there are buses, vans and police cars under the heaviest guard waiting! When you see a witch, keep your head low and hope she didn't see you... unless you think you've got the bite to back up your bark!


[Coordination post is right here! Make sure to head your threads with the following format: [CHARACTER(S) | LOCATION | OPEN/CLOSED] Don't forget to tag yourselves in!]

Comments

[ritsu_kouyou]

Akiha and Sion had moved farther and farther from the safe area, searching for people still unaccounted for and directing them back to where other teams were waiting. They had encountered a few kishin eggs along the way and disposed of them as quickly as they could. One of them was a bit tougher than the others and smarter, managing to pull the pair farther from the support of the others even as it started to realize it wasn't going to make it out alive.

So it was with a crash that Akiha sent the kishin egg through the wall of a building out into the streets where a familiar pair was resting. The Meister moved through the hole with alacrity, not slowed down at all, and buried the falcon end of the staff into the head of the kishin egg, permanently putting it down.

As the red soul emerged from the corpse, Akiha instinctively turned toward Cloud and Sephiroth at the ready having noted the presence of others, but not who or what they were. Seeing who it was, Akiha relaxed a bit and let go of her partner as Sion transformed back so she could collect the soul.

Pulling the band out of her hair, Akiha ran her fingers through it before replacing it. She nodded toward the other pair in greeting.

[computations]

Sion hit the ground on two feet, small puffs of dust sliding out from the impact. She brushed herself off lightly, a little icky from smashing creatures flat under Akiha's bursts of tremendous strength. Akiha was getting more and more skilled as time passed but was forgetting one thing, which she reminded Akiha of mentally. Please clean her off before letting her change back.

Sion noted the other pair with a look and turned to pick up the soul while she had the chance. Instead of consuming it now, she simply pocketed it. While others were around, she refused to partake in eating it. Yet another time where she hated to be watched.

But now that she could address them...

"Hopefully, we are not in your way."

[de_faulty_hero]

The crashing of a kishin egg was obvious, and Cloud casually watched as the enemy in question was launched through the building they were standing on. It probably had it coming. He couldn't say that he was surprised to see Akiha crashing in after the creature and ending its existence with that... what was it again? Sion had called it a was.

He lifted a hand in greeting when they were acknowledged, indicating with more body language than words that he was going down to greet the other pair properly. He jumped from the building and landed in the rubble, hopping down until he was back street level.

"Nah, we cleared some of the area behind and ahead anyway. You're awful far from support though. Nice kill, by the way," he said, looking at the spot where the kishin egg had come to rest.

[pure_lineage]

The vibrations on the ground changed as Akiha and her partner separated from the other group to pursue their target. Feeling the entire building rumble, Sephiroth closed his eyes to recover from the sudden onslaught of vibrations as the wall was destroyed even as the other pair had decimated the kishin egg.

His eyes smoothly opened once again moments after, and he quietly watched as Cloud leapt from his side and down to greet the other pair. Watching from up above, Sephiroth's attention only lingered for the moment before he was once again scanning the area.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Akiha was perfectly content to ignore Sephiroth. In fact, she was going to do her best to not bother talking to him if she could. Her attention turned to Cloud once he joined them on street level.

"Thank you. It was trying to get away; I refused to allow it to escape." And that was exactly what she thought, assuming it had been in retreat instead of luring them further away. Regardless, it paid with its life.

"Any luck in finding what's causing all this? The Madness is... oppressive." And Akiha wasn't happy with it.

[computations]

"I would like to think that we can handle ourselves either way."

Just to add a little cockiness to the mix. After their recent strings of victories and successes, Sion was overly confident about their own skills. But, as far as she was concerned, there was quite a bit of merit in believing in their own abilities as long as they weren't being suicidal about it.

"If what you say is true, we happen to be safe either way."

She supposed that was the power of a Death Scythe and meister, to clear out enemies in a wide swath before most could take on a bare few.

[de_faulty_hero]

He inclined his head a little, giving them their due since they had relentless pursued the kishin egg in question. He had grown used to the other pair anyway, and he tucked his hands into his pockets as the corner of his lips quirked at them both. "Well, they'll collect all the eggs that aren't picked up and divide them. I haven't seem Shibusen this deep yet."

He turned his head, looking around before he shrugged one shoulder. The left was bandaged down to his elbow and white peeked from the collar of his sweater. "So far, no, but I suspect there's at least one witch around here. We haven't located her yet, but Sephiroth is on the look-out for one."

He looked between the two, remembering their last entertaining mission together. This one was a little more tense with the ignoring of certain parties. "Do you two want to hunt around with us? We can cover more ground that way."

[pure_lineage]

Unlike Cloud who couldn't sense Madness, Sephiroth was quite the opposite as he was far more susceptible to it than most others. It had taken him far longer to be able to withstand the stronger amounts of it, and in the beginning it had often ended with his insanity once again invading his mind. Now that was unlikely to happen unless he had been caught by surprise, but that was something he fought with everything within him to avoid.

He listened quietly to the conversation below even as he caught sight of movement to his left. Crouching down, he placed his hand on the surface of the roof to get a better sense of numbers for what he was seeing. There may have only been ten or so in sight, but Sephiroth knew well not to trust purely in that.

It took a moment, but he could feel the vibrations of more than just those that he could see. So, his instincts were correct in that regard, and it was a thought that had him standing back up as Cloud finished speaking. "There is a large group of eggs incoming from the south with numbers averaging approximately twenty targets," Sephiroth said more for Cloud's benefit than anything. "Do not be fooled by the small number that are visible."

The blonde had extended the invitation, and while he wouldn't speak against it, he wouldn't speak for it either. Instead a feathery wing erupted from his right shoulder to stretch out wide moments before he jumped over the edge of the building and took flight ahead of the trio.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Whereas Akiha was too keen on working with Sephiroth again, she had become friendly enough with Cloud that she would put up with his partner for the sake of getting more experience and learning through observation of a more advanced pair. After all, it was her and Sion's goal to reach their level.

"I'm not opposed--"

And then Sephiroth spoke up. Twenty targets? With the other pair, Akiha wasn't too worried about the numbers. As long as she didn't get cornered, her and Sion would be okay. She nodded and turned in the direction Sephiroth had headed off in, fingers brushing Sion's arm as she went.

How absurd. Isn't it aerodynamically impossible to fly with ONE wing?

[computations]

Hmmm...

She pondered Akiha's question as she watched Sephiroth fly off like that.

Yes, it would be but it may just be an image he is presenting. I suspect that when people reach Death Scythe status, they gain an ability to fly.

The amount of enemies obviously weren't a priority for her if she was dedicating her thoughts to Sephiroth. Her confidence in Akiha's skill and the power the other team exhibited were enough to assuage any bad feelings she may be having about numbers. Yeah, they could take them.

[de_faulty_hero]

Cloud turned his head at the sound of Sephiroth's voice, taking in the information provided with little concern. He was certain that he and Sephiroth could handle that many enemies by themselves, but it seemed to be far more exciting to have company who could fight well too.

"Well, I guess we're hanging out then," he said with a nod of his head before he watched his partner make a good show of taking off and heading for the targets. "Don't hog them all," he called after his Weapon as he turned and took off running to get around the rubble of the building to head in the direction that his partner was going.

He drew one of his normal swords, not bothering with catching up. They had been fighting separately anyway. "You don't mind company?" He used the link between the communicate as he caught sight of the first of their enemies.

[pure_lineage]

His partner was still recovering from the injuries he'd sustained, and while Sephiroth knew that Cloud wouldn't let them keep him down, the ex-General would do what he could to protect the younger male regardless. That was largely why he took off ahead of the trio while the muscles at the base of his wing worked hard to keep him on track.

'It is fine,' Sephiroth replied as he heard Cloud speak through their JENOVA link. While he had his own reservations over the new situation, he kept it to himself while he focused on his targets. They hadn't fought on the battlefield alongside another since Kuroro, but Sephiroth knew well that nothing would ever be as things had been then. There was a momentary flash of longing sweeping through him for such days, and yet he knew it was foolish to fall into such nonsense thought patterns. Things would never be as they were, just as he felt that Kuroro would never be returned to this city.

Pushing such thoughts from his mind, he summoned his beloved blade to appear in his left hand. An exact replica of his seven food sword materialized and stretched out far in front of him as he homed in on his targets. From his position, he could see those who were foolish enough to attempt hiding close in on the trio on the ground. Tucking his wing more against his shoulder, he fell into a nose dive as he rapidly swiped out to slash at the first target dashing across the rooftop.

[ritsu_kouyou]

I suppose it doesn't matter right now. We have some kishin eggs to kill. Come on.

Akiha wasn't about to let herself be seen as weak or anything less than what she was. Far more experienced than the last time they'd been on mission with the other pair, their confidence wasn't as arrogant as it seemed on the surface. And so far they had overcome their initial fear of the Madness from their investigation mission, and having enemies to fight made focusing easier.

She ran after the others, knowing Sion would be right there with her and in her hands the moment they spotted their first target.

[computations]

It would be important to know for my future.

If Sion could fly, that certainly would be a...thing. She stayed with Akiha, as expected, but she couldn't help but think of what she might do with that kind of power. Scientifically recreating that would be simple but it was different if it was hers alone. And if she could carry Akiha with her, that would also be kind of fun. They'd never need to take an airplane, for sure.

It was a silly thought but she had enough presence to keep her eyes out for enemies. Even if they were weak, being swarmed certainly wouldn't be entertaining at all.

[de_faulty_hero]

For once, he only drew the sword to his right hand, charging around the corner in time to see Sephiroth start the nose-dive that the ex-General so often dared and had years of practice doing. Yet, he hadn't missed that sense of longing from his Weapon, and he knew the source as keenly as if it had been his own emotion. Sephiroth was remembering a best friend, probably the first ever.

He charged right into the thick of the kishin eggs that were in sight, aware that his partner would watch his back. Then there was Akiha and Sion coming behind him. He had no fear even as he began to resonate, challenging his power down his blade as he slashed and cut through the three in front of him. This soul menace wasn't so bad once he got the hang of it.

[pure_lineage]

It was easy for Sephiroth to get lost in the motions when it came to the battlefield. This was what he had been created for, and it was moments like these that he often found himself being at peace with everything. That was how he felt as all of the desire and longing drifted away while his mind began to automatically focus on the task at hand. It was all automatic to him, and he moved with precision and grace as he pulled out of his nose dive just in time to bring his Masamune up to effortlessly slice through the first opponent on the roof.

His movement and ease with flying and his wing spoke of decades of experience, and as it uncurled and spread out wide to catch the wind and bring him to a stop, he retracted it back into his body to continue the fight. His position, on the building top to their left, had him perfectly aware of his partner's location and state from above. Sephiroth knew well that Cloud could handle himself even with the injuries to his shoulder, but that the blonde had his companions that he would be fighting alongside.

Isolating each and every target on the rooftop, Sephiroth sighted the nine remaining ones that had been once converging on the trio's location, but had instead turned their attention to him instead at his arrival. His lips quirked up into the brief image of a smirk before he took off at near-blinding speed and began to close the distance to the closest kishin egg.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Research it later.

Akiha knew her partner's mind was working on something in parallel to their current situation. And whereas Sion was more than capable of it, Akiha would rather have Sion's full mind on their enemies.

Like the one who's attack the meister ducked before she turned around and kicked the back of its leg, dropping it to one knee. Slamming a knee into its head, Akiha glanced back to see if Sion had the other one bearing down on them.

[computations]

It was a request so Sion took the idea and shoved it to the back of her mind. She still liked the idea, though, so it would probably be revisited. Mostly likely when she was dreaming and not having a nightmare.

And handle she did, though it was a side show to watching out for other creatures. Sion was getting more used to partially transforming and using parts of her body as the weapon she was. It was always simple to drop a creature with a quick kick and stab her foot, now the bottom of her staff, through a important part of their body.

[de_faulty_hero]

He turned his head long enough to know that his back really was covered by Sion and Akiha, and he was pleased to see them engaged already. He concentrated on the three in front of him, even if his shoulder slowed him down a little. He used his blade to block a clawing attempt before twisting the sword to remove some fingers.

He was forced to side-step another leaping at him before he blasted the kishin egg in front of him with soul menace. It still wasn't exactly controlled, but the humanoid creature was defeated anyway. "Hey Akiha, how's that soul menace going for you?"

[pure_lineage]

Sephiroth quickly closed the distance between himself and his next target. The Masamune swung out in a wide arc, the sweeping gesture effortlessly removing the kishin egg's arm moments before Sephiroth struck out to the side to split the target in two. He didn't pay it any further attention as his inhuman gaze fixated on the two incoming on his position from the rooftops on either side of his location.

He smirked lightly as he focused his energy on controlling the shadows. Those to his left suddenly shot out from the ledges as if it was a life on its own, and they rapidly closed in on the incoming kishin egg while Sephiroth took off after the one to his right. Ignoring the sound of the kishin egg getting impaled by the sharp shadows, the ex-General easily leapt the distance between the two buildings as his shadow flickered over his Meister during the process. Bringing his beloved blade down to strike at the kishin egg.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Bring both arms up to catch another kishin egg's snapping jaws on her vembraces as the other rolled away to recover, Akiha narrowed her eyes as she grabbed the creature's fangs and pulled, forcing it's mouth open. Absorbing some of its energy with Soul Bite, she channeled it back into her own strength and tore its jaw half off. Releasing her grip, she put one hand against its chest and a small crimson colored spark was seen and the monster was blown back.

"It's not yet where I want it to be in live combat," she replied as she turned so her forearm brushed against Sion, giving her the resonance boost to the alchemist's own attacks.

[computations]

"Regardless, she can use it just fine."

The need to be the best was probably one of Akiha's driving points, or so Sion thought. And felt not too long ago.

Sion accepted the welcome boost, using it to plow through another enemy quickly. Once she had a free moment, she transformed into a staff and made sure her arc was guided so she'd fall into Akiha's reach.

[de_faulty_hero]

He parried a slash attempt that was aimed at him from the two remaining kishin eggs that he was fighting, but he was aware of the enjoyment that his partner was taking in all of this. Perhaps they were good to fight side-by-side for their easier battles? He couldn't think too long at it as he was still in combat.

He blinked when his sword was caught in the teeth of the kishin egg that he swung at before resonating down his blade and taking the top half of the creature's head off. Well, that was more successful! He was pleased even as he exchanged blows with the last of his current enemies.

"She hasn't used it on you, has she?" He suspected Akiha would never resort to tactics like what he did.

[pure_lineage]

The kishin egg quickly fell under Sephiroth's assault. There was no challenge to him at all here, but there hadn't been for the weeks leading up to becoming a Deathscythe either, and so he fought with just enough skill and power to be above the kishin egg's strength while conserving his own. With the pockets of Madness dipping and rising here and there, he knew that he would need to conserve his energy for the battle that was still to come.

Seeing their enemy up on the roof, the remaining seven kishin eggs made a mad scramble down to the street level where the other three were. It was a foolish decision on their part, even if he knew it had been their only option for an attempt at survival. Withdrawing his wing back into his body, Sephiroth shifted his direction and leapt down between the buildings to land well in front of the trio behind him.

Taking off again, he felt through his JENOVA link with Cloud, using his cells within the blonde's body to issue his warning as he struck out at a kishin egg emerging around a corner, 'Seven more dropped down from the rooftops.'

[ritsu_kouyou]

No, Akiha didn't resort to tactics like Cloud had and shocked Sion with Soul Menace. Instead, she'd lost her temper when Sion crossed over a line with insults and struck her with it.

...she still felt bad about it.

"I'm not one to pull practical jokes, Cloud."

Catching the staff, Akiha smoothly rounded on the next enemy and knocked it back into a small group that had just landed. Running forward, she did a one-handed cartwheel into the group, kicking the one she'd hit as she cartwheeled. Once both feet were on the ground, Akiha dropped low and swung the heavy end of the staff in successive circles, knocking the others off their feet.