Logs:Burger Time

From Megaman Mush Wiki

WHO: Layer, Gemini Man, Lumine, Daryn, Michael Eildath, Pallette, Mac, Search Man, Signas, Zero
WHAT: A group of Hunters goes to a burger shoppe in San Angeles. Dragonly, Daryn and... Dragonfly?! are also there. Things do not end well.
WHERE: Sierra Nevadas, San Angeles
WHEN: June 9, 2221

Sierra Nevadas, mid-afternoon.

The place is a burger joint within a more commercial district of the area, lying sort of on the borderline of good vs. evil. It's not exactly a big place, more the fare of a Duchess or something of the sort; burgers and all sorts of food are served here at Mick's, and they're a little famous within their own district, but overall the atmosphere is casual, simple, etc.

Various Hunters, with vehicles parked outside, have invaded. For they are hungry and wish to feast. The scene begins with Layer placing her order, and things generally start out peaceful and simple... for now. Where everyone else is at within the building is up to them, and generally the place, and scene for that matter, are open to all who dare show.

Click, click, click...

Footsteps carried her in. This was it... everything was right today. There would be no faults.

Layer was as determined as ever. Long coat swayed in her walk as green, exposed eyes survey the area. She knew what had to be done, she knew what was required, and she knew that what she desired would be won today... but still, there was the ever present worry within her heart as she approached her destiny... approached...

A girl behind the counter. "Hey." She softly says with a smile, before, "Alright, complicated order. Ready?"

The girl nods, before Layer begins rambling. FAST. "Okay, first off, I need a tea, but not too sweet. Two sugars, two creams, ON THE SIDE. Not in it. Same with the packet, leave it on the side. Hot water only in the cup. Two cheeseburgers, well done, with lettuce, tomato, mayo on all three and a LITTLE ketchup. Go light, they usually give me too much. I would like some onion rings on the side as well, plus on top of this I would like a little side cup of ketchup." Yes, for a reploid, SHE'S PICKY. "Oh, and also... wait, forgot, you guys don't serve... alright, a serving of Tapioca with whipped cream for dessert, not too much whipped cream. Just enough."

The poor girl just nods, typing away on a digital screen, before, "Alright, that'll be 12 zenny." Layer nods, paying, before having a seat as they prepared the food fresh to order.

'Gesture of defiance'. It makes the stunts Zero pulls on a semi-regular basis seem almost noble in purpose. He would say he was doing it 'just because', but that's why Zero's doesn't handle PR stuff unless he really wants to. Zero has already gotten his order and is just sipping his soda in the corner. He doesn't expect much to happen today, but considering this is Wily's turf, he figures his presence is likely a good call. After all, Bass or Dark Man suddenly appearing could be a lot for even the Operator sisters to handle on their own.

Glancing out the window, Zero wonders what drone patrols will arrive along with with the Robot Masters, if they come at all. He heard that the programming of the drones had changed since the Professor came into power. Whether or not they had returned to their former state or resumed their new found efficiency is something Zero wondered and here he might be able to get the answers firsthand. "You giving the poor woman trouble?" Zero asks, his eyes still looking out. After all, at the first sign of trouble, he wants to leave. After all, he doesn't want the poor staff getting killed for a simple 'gesture of defiance'.

Gemini Man is quite accustomed to these sorts of defiant gestures, as he's done a number of them in the past, himself, in various hero-aligned territories. He enjoys the tense stand-offs when they happen, the hero unwilling to do anything violent to eject him for fear of injuring civilians, while he enjoys himself in the open.

This doesn't work quite so well, he thinks, when heroes are doing it, since they, and not he, are the ones worried about the killing of civilians. Strategically, it is not, he belives, a great move.

But as long as they enjoy themselves?

Of course, it isn't Gemini Man that arrives in the diner. He after all should enjoy himself too, and his idea of enjoying himself isn't being surrounded by a dozen Hunters. That would turn the situation from a fun outing into a violent beatdown quickly even if he managed to kill a waitress or two. So he wonders how they will handle his alter-ego. Will it be violence as usual?

Dragonfly wanders in to the diner and takes stock of the group. He walks over and pulls up a chair next to Zero. "So, um, who's buying? It's you, right?"

Layer just blushes a little, letting out a soft chuckle. "They expect it from me by now." She remarks back to the red devil, giving a curious glance to him. He seemed a bit on edge... though he had every right to be. They were pushing their borders a little.

Pallette generally gets ignored for being PAllette, as Layer, a few seats away from Zero, just relaxes, closing her eyes a little with arms folded across jacket... before a voice causes her to open them. A voice she wasn't exactly thrilled to hear, opening her eyes only to spot Dragonfly taking a seat RIGHT by Zero.

Now LAYER's the nervous one.

Michael Eildath walks in from the street. He didn't ride, apparently, and he's not here by himself. Striding into the restaurant with purpose, he leads about a half dozen other people, a diverse bunch, both human and reploid, dressed in a combination of riot gear and gang attire. He directs them to a table not far from the Hunters, chatting with them amiably, making sure that orders are straight.

Bomb Man is currently at the counter, having smelled the opportunity for a hamburger from miles. He's just ordering a super-duper-uber-guts sized extra greasy Burger with a gargantuan large helping of French fries(or would that be Bass fries?) and a colossal can diet cola(he's on a diet). The alpha doesn't notice Dragonfly or the others right now as his attention is fixed on his food.

"I think Zero is buying," Pallette replies vapidly, scratching her chin with one finger and looking at the cieling, "But if he doesn't it's OK because I brought a twenty for myself. I really wanna know what the toy is though! Oh, I hope they get the whipcream right in my tapioca, I can't stand it when they don't--"

And then she looks down and hey it's Dragonfly didn't he stab the blue man group guys a couple days ago? "Hey!"

Signas leans on the exterior wall of the restaurant. He has his arms crossed and his face also looks cross. Perhaps he is cross about Geneva. Either way, the Diplomat does not seem to be ordering food at the moment. Instead, he glowers at a group of small children who are playing with fireworks out in the parking lot.

"Hey! You kids! Fireworks are dangerous," he calls. "If you want to use them, make sure you have an adult present to supervise. I know fireworks are fun and pretty, but it's better to have fun in a safe environment than to lose a hand!"

Signas uncrosses his arms long enough to give the kids a thumbs-up. "And now you know!"

"Eat a dick, Signas!" calls back one little girl.

Commercial District it may be and with the advent of Ragnarok's and various political upheavals over the years privatized health systems have seen most of the clinics, hospitals and other medical facilities worth visiting crop up around these edge of suburbia commercial zones of late. As such there is a little bit of commotion at Habeeb's MRI / CAT / & EVERYTHING ELSE SCAN EMPORIUM which is in an adjacent building in the same block albeit kitty corner across the parking lot.

In an upstairs window there is the muffled sound of quiet lasers being fired, the electric blue flashes clearly visible through the flyer bedecked windows. And in that parking lot, in fact not very far from the collection of vehicles, no doubt including Ride Armors, CRABS and transports the Hunters brought their enormous posse in with, a van is idling and an unassuming Gemini Man sits in driver's seat of the boosted white windowless carpentry vehicle casually without a care in the world. An upside down pornographic magazine supposedly occupying his attention for the time being.

There is a long pause as Dragonfly sits next to him. Like Han Solo, Zero is wary, but not at all fearful that a hated rival is in front of him. "Why if it isn't 'Pain In the Ass' Man, here to grace us with his presence." Zero sips his soda, arching a brow. "So, you want me to kick your ass again or something or just here to try and be cryptic and mysterious because that ship has loooong since past."

Looking out the window, he sighs. "Oh no, it looks like you're already attacking things. You should stop that before I stab you in the face," he states in a dry tone.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Zero transmits, "Hrm... Seems like we have 'Gemini Man' causing trouble outside. Someone want to check it out while I keep our esteemed guest here company?"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer mumbles sarcastically, "...I'll start the Lumine vs. Dark Man betting pool, then..."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "As if two of them wasn't bad enough."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "I am already out here... mingling... with the natives. I will investigate."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Pallette transmits, "I'll buy some food for you, Signas."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Kick his, her, or its ass, Signas."

Layer blinks, as something Zero says triggers her to glance out the window. There appears to be somebody Gemini Man-like out in a van down there... but something in the way's obscuring his face. Layer's eyes zoooom in to double-check and see who it is...

Before she blinks, turning away with an embarassed blush. Porno mag. Probably Dark Man. Though she doesn't note the fact that it's upside-down immediately...

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "Of course, Commander."

Bomb Man picks up his humongous pile of food and heads back to the table humming a little ditty. He takes a seat next to Dragonfly with a friendly "Hey gem, how's it going." And starts eating. Normally he would be a bit more cautious and all, but well, He's hungry.

Nom Nom Nom Nom.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Dr. Cain transmits, "I love our foreign relations policy."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Dr. Cain transmits, "I can't be anywhere else."

"I'm just here to be better than you," Dragonfly says to Zero, "Which these days is quite easy."

Zero points out something that he didn't notice right away, so he turns around in his seat and peers out across the diner window. He sees the violence before he sees that 'himself' is responsible, but, then, he chuckles. "What on earth are you talking about 'me.' I'm clearly sitting right here with you fine people, and nobody here has any intent of violence. Is some dastardly evildoer harming civilians?"

Signas sighs, shaking his head at the children. Instead of trying to talk them down any further, he just douses the pile of fireworks with some riot foam and walks across the parking lot towards the building full of suspicious flashes. He looks up at the flyers, and the blue light, then puts his hands on his hips. Behind him, the children make angry faces and rude gestures. Signas does not seem to notice.

"Hello up there!" he calls, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Are you in need of assistance? Are you being attacked with lasers?"

The limited laser fire which was not even accompanied by any explosions or screams is allready over and done with, as one wouldn't expect even a cost-effective Doctor named Habeeb to have very many patients in this day and age choking up the waiting room. But neither, of course, is Gemini Man showing the type of alertness typical of the form or function, happening by sheer coincidence upon this Burger Drive.

The Gemini Man in the driver's seat folds the magazine up in ways that magazines do not naturally fold and then hucks it out the window, only to look a little surprised as it sails through the half opened window to bounce off of a Hunter vehicle which is parked one space over from the van. "That's no good." He mutters sheepishly to himself, form shimmering to be replaced by a slightly more mundane but decidedly gangster movie looking black suit with sunglasses outfit.

The next thing he sees is the kids yelling at Signas as he makes his way quietly towards the entrance to the Everything Else Scan Emporium which nets a more naval response, but not allowing it to break his stride he just whistles tunelessly as he makes his way towards the office to assist his partner. As one of the kids turns and spots him he holds a finger up to his mouth with a friendly smile and tosses a paper bag full of fireworks that has just shimmered into solidity in his hand to the child and nods.

Pallette kind of looks awkward at Dragonfly. She's not entirely sure he stabbed people, but now she feels kinda bad for wanting to go for burgers. "Where is Layer with that food," she mumbles. "I'm gonna... go to the counter and... make sure... tapioca..."

And she gets up, walks a bit and then runs off to the bathroom. Maybe she needs to go do girly things?

Nope, she's going for the window. Girly things involving windows? Or is she going to go help Signas? Or get stuck in the window? If you answered three, you were right!

Pallette says, "Help."

Michael Eildath orders food for his men, making his way back to the table with a tray full of drinks for them. The food will come as soon as they've had time to make it. Settling down into his seat, he chats for a bit, watching the play outside as he sees Signas gearing up to deliver an asswhooping. "That man out there," he says to his men, "isn't wasting time. I expect we'll see some regulating damn quick, too."

Dragonfly watches out the window as not-Gemini-Man does his thing, though he loses sight of him quickly since the person who is not him is being about as tricky as he usually is. "How exciting," he says. "I think I have a new crush," he adds, fanning himself in a fey manner.

Layer gets up to go get her food, but as 'Gemini Man' chucks the magazine, it smacks her bike, which proceeds to obnoxiously beep and siren repeatedly thanks to an old car alarm.

Layer facepalms, walking outside to silence it.

"Better than me?" Zero moves to get up, not caring that Dragonfly is right next to him. Soda still in hand, Zero calmly shakes the cup. Nothing but ice. Popping the lid, he calmly lets an ice cube or two slide down into his mouth, a simple controlled shake ensuring that only some of the ice horde come. "I'm a hybrid, designed to be nothing more than a killing machine. Wily considers me a failure and a traitor. The world expected me to be as good as Rock, even while hurling insults my direction. While I have support from all my friends down here, in the past, I was considered a loose cannon and a general asshole. Some still think me that way."

The ice is crushed in Zero's teeth. "I don't give a **** either way. I'd rather live my own life and have no respect, then be like you." Zero dumps the rest of the ice toward Dragonfly. Regardless if it hits or not, Zero continues on. "A lapdog that doesn't have the balls to think like an alpha wolf."

Signas, getting no response, heads towards the door of the emporium and is about to open it when he notices a gangster next to him, going to do the same thing. Signas blinks.

"Well hello," he says neutrally. "What brings you here."

Dragonfly ends up with ice in his lap, while he's distracted by watching across the street.

He doesn't really mind ice, so much, though Zero's attitude is very bothersome. He pushes the pile of wet ice of of his lap on to the floor. His eyes narrow at Zero while his mouth remains flat. "For starters, Rock is worthless, dead, or dead and worthless depending on your point of view, so you lived up to his potential exactly. In fact, seeing as you're still alive, you surpassed him in at least one way. Kudos."

He sweeps off his lap again. "You should be flattered that people considered you something. That they had some kind of 'expectation' for you. I was merely expected to stay in line."

Michael Eildath shakes his head at some of his guys. "Now's not the time," he mutters to them.

Pallette wriggle wriggle wriggle I'm not fat when am I stuck in this windooooow.

Pallette wriggles and jiggles and squeeezes and eventually falls out into... a puddle. Now Pallette is all dirty.

Pallette is beginning to wish she stayed inside and ordered more gargantuan fries. Nevertheless, she sneaks around the side of the building to see if Signas could use a helper.

As Layer moves out to silence her car alarm, though, something catches her ears... words she totally disapproves, frowning angrily.

But she says nothing, opening the door before stepping around Signas and the gangster... glancing briefly at the sound of a puddle splashing before moving to her bike BEEP which BEEP is BEEP still BEEP incessantly BEEP beeping BEEP over BEEP and BEEP over BEEP again BEEP!

She puts her hand to a DNA-Soul scanning lock. The bike beep-beeps! before shutting up.

The 'gangster' smiles charmingly at Signas as the kids run off with their fresh supply of fireworks. "I have an appointment to have my head scanned. I have good medical coverage with my job. Remembering to reach into his pocket before he creates a wallet and produces it, and reveals it to be full of ID with his face on it, a medical insurance card, and some other various things with the name John Evans on them.

What? Did you expect Smith? John would hardly stoop so low, he even proves what a gentleman he really is as by opening the door and gesturing for Signas to enter, as Habeeb himself speaking in a passable Arabic accent of some indeterminate dialect is allready striding across the lobby stooping to pick up a lone magazine which has somehow fallen from the tables to the floor. "If you want to help me kill all these rats in my place fine!" He snaps hastily at Signas in response to his earlier query about 'assistance' as John then follows Signas into the lobby...

...Presuming of course Signas does enter, which he may or may not do. Either way Habeeb replaces the magazine on the table next to the rows of empty chairs. Just as the kids outside manage to get the fireworks going, and the parking lot is filled with the SNAPS CRACKLES and POPS of festive fireworks being set off.

"Of course, medical coverage is a blessing," Signas replies, face blank. He takes a moment to memorise the street outside the building, then walks into the lobby in front of John.

"You must be Habeeb," he replies to the gentleman in question. "I find... scans... fascinating, and would like a tour of your facilities. Can that be arranged."

Zero's helm gem glows as his eyes narrow, but this is only for a moment. Self control is something that Zero can now choose to exercise and he is... Though this time he is barely able to do so. The momentary facial expression akin to his usual rage and the crushed cup should let Gemini know he hit a nerve. But even in a sore spot, the swordsman keeps his cool. "Rock's done more in death than a shit like you ever did in life, so don't try and bring that up again unless you want to make yourself seem pettier than you are."

Glancing outside, Zero turns away from Dragonfly to look at the window. This might be the opening he was looking for, if he was looking for the classic backstab moment. At least the talk has given the staff in the store time to flee if they were smart. If not, well, Zero and Gemini might be doing the world a service should things get ugly. "As for you, you had your chance when Wily was thought dead. Light coulda freed you, let you do your own thing... Which would have meant redeeming yourself or proving you didn't Wily to be evil in robot form. In the end, you did what I figured you'd do: the safe thing."

THAT little bit did touch a nerve. At this, Dragonfly stands up. He looks down over Zero, waiting to see if the other robot will rise accordingly. "You think I did the SAFE thing? You think what I did... was EASY?"

He stammers for a second, realizing the rest of what Zero intimated. "You think they would have allowed me... REDEMPTION?"

His mouth flattens, then he smiles. More softly, he mutters. "And, you think I'm not free. Hm."

Habeeb frowns at Signas with a dismissive shrug and display of empty palms. John simply steps coolly in behind Signas, remaining quiet and unpresumptuous for the time being. He has an appointment after all.

Habeeb looks apologetically at John and then back at Signas with a scrutinizing glare. "What are you anyways, huh?! The cops or something? I have appointments and business to run you know. But sure, you big scary death machine, I can give you a tour if you kill the rats you know." As if to make his point a giant womp-rat, yeah Star Wars reference, I went there, scurries impossible out from beneath a waiting room table and out the front door as it closes behind John.

Somewhere, three blocks away at a most gratious height, a Robot Master watches. His orders simply to find out the many that are in the Blue Men Group. Graciously, from when he leaves to when he comes back, he makes sure to get as much as possible, no matter what the cost. Now, here before the many eating at the fast food restaurant, Search Man looms.

Through a scope overhanging a twenty story building, he chooses to be right behind a electric sign that displays the company's logo and the time and temperature as it moves between all three. And today, it's a perfect spot for Search Man to overlook the happenings.

A rectile is present, and there's no red lights either. He's just watching, for now.

An X-wing flies by, complete with the traditional laser sounds, shooting the womp rat a few times.

Habeeb brightens although he curses under his breath at first, as the X-Wing takes care of the womp-rat. "Allright then you take care of rats I guess you get the Grand Tour, huh, you big special man you. Thanks." ... . o O (for nothing)

Signas attempts a smile. As usual, he fails. "You are very gracious," he replies, clasping his hands behind his back. "Lead the way."

He turns and spares a glance for the "Gangster," offering that same flat-mouthed smile. "Why don't you come along, Mr. Evans. I am sure you will learn much about your impending... scan."

Zero is already standing, but he does take a step back once Dragonfly rises, turning to face him with a faint smirk. "Considering you're bitching about how you were too scared to try redemption or go out on your own? Yeah, I do. What you did with a bomb, I did with my bare hands. Don't pretend you're a bigger monster than the Old Me. You might be the New Hotness of Solo Urban Genocide, but I was the Pioneer. But last I checked, I'm not nearly as hated as you. I suppose you're gunna try and pass that off on the hair." Zero pauses a moment to stroke his golden prize. "Well, if you do, it IS nice hair," he says in a mocking tone.

Michael Eildath's men have forgotten about Signas for the moment, most of them either eating or watching the growing altercation between Zero and Dragonfly. Mike watches as he sips on his Coke. He has issues with Dragonfly, to be certain. But he's eating. He can at least stay somewhat civil while the conversation isn't directed at him.

Dragonfly can't be as angry about this because it doesn't quite add up. He quirks his head to the side. "You killed ten million people with your bare hands?"

Then he smiles, a grin blooming on his face. "Oh, I see. You're exaggerating. That's cute!"

He sits down again, whether Zero does or not. He seems to be defused, momentarily. "I'm not trying to be an emo petulant teenager - the way you are - but you really don't seem to understand me very well. I'm not interested in out doing your 'monster' quotient so much as just being more relevant to global politics than you are."

Mr. Evans rolls his eyes. "Well they put me in the thingy after I take my clothes off and wear a dress, and they scan to see if my cancer has gone into remission." He rebukes Signas pointedly, "And no, you can't watch. Seriously." he rolls his eyes, "And you know I wanted to check out the chicken recipes in this San Angelino Living Magazine." He says lifting up and unfolding the porno magazine from earlier, which suffers the benefit of a holographic cover edit in fact showing a glazed chicken.

Habeeb on the other hand continues in the same vein of mild agitation and imatience as he leads Signas into the hallway at the back, which is festooned with doorways with little holders for medical charts and the like, as medical offices are wont. "Exactly what would you like to see mister, " He turns and tilts his head indicating he isn't sure whom he is speaking too and then shrugs---

---"Giant Death Policeman with no credentials or warrant. Would you like to see the MRI, or the X-Ray equipment, or perhaps my video tapes from the... uh..." He coughs into his hand, "Security cameras I have installed in the change rooms but not told my patients about." He has to force the smirk down as he isn't even making those up.

Layer looks in briefly. Zero stroking the hair. Swoooooon.

After it, though, she goes back inside, FINALLY picking up her food. It's cold by now. She begins to move her way over to where Zero and Dragonfly are at hoping her pretty self would help sedate things a little. She gives a concerned glance Mike's way as if to ask "are you watching this?" before making her way back over, on Zero's other side, plopping herself down behind him.

Search Man continues to watch at a distace.

There is no red light.

Daryn wants cheeseburger. But more importantly, he's hearing through the grapevine about the 'I'm a big monster than you' fight between Gemini Man and Zero and he hopes he can end the fight by assuring them both that they are really both very irresponsibly violent and deadly in regards to the slaughtering of cities.

"Oh boy, oh boy! Burgers! And the best part is, is that I get the Robot Master discount, yum yum! Foods!" Daryn singsongs as he makes his way to the burger joint.

Michael Eildath offers Layer a shrug. He seems unconcerned. He has some burger.

"Yes, of course. How silly of me," Signas says blandly, waving a hand dismissively. Fascinating. Almost as if they were different people. "Enjoy your chicken recipe, I hear that the lemon glazing can do wonders for cancerous tumours," he lies, following after Habeeb.

Standing in the hallway, he carefully scans all the doorways, then returns his level gaze to Habeeb. Without altering his tone of voice one whit, he deadpans: "I would like to see the scene of the crime, Mr. Habeeb. Or did you trip your Emergency Alarm Implant just for fun."

The massacre of Shanghai wasn't quite as long reaching as the bomb, but Zero is not amused to see it as trivialized as it is. It only lasts for a moment though, Zero realizing that if his enemies are considering it small fish that perhaps it really has become water under the bridge. Maybe he HAS finally redeemed himself.

Filing that for a deep pondering over a beer, Zero shrugs and stays standing as he speaks. "I'm a teenager? This coming from the man that whines that he's an irredeemable soul and then claims all he wants to do is be more relevant the next." Lowering himself somewhat as if speaking to a baby with a big pouty lip. "Did Daddy not hug you enough?"

Dragonfly looks over at Zero, trying to follow his logic. He blinks.

"Wait, what are we arguing about exactly now? ... Oh, you know, about the redemption." He picks up the water on his table and takes a sip, then looks at a menu. May as well eat. "I'm not saying I'm not 'redeemable' - not that I consider it a quality worth striving for for my personal or professional development - but, that nobody would OFFER me redemption for what I've done. If I were to go free - which I am by the way, but, you're ignoring that - and tell people I was ready to go good, do you really think they'd believe it? Before San Angeles, sure, but not now, not after."

"At any rate, I'm generally proud of the work I've done in the 'violence' sector, and you're more likely to be ashamed, so why even bring it up unless you wanted to get in some kind of pissing contest with me?" Dragonfly waves a hand. "To me, it's all water under the bridge. Dead people are just stastics, just numbers; it's the way I was made. You see their faces, before you, haunting you with half-memories. I see numbers in a tally."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "Do you believe that the Dragonfly in the restaurant is the real Dragonfly."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer transmits, "Why's that? He's exibiting every trait of Gemini Man."

SCREEEECH!

That's the sound of Daryn pulling a table over to Dragonfly and Zero, sitting down, and swinging his legs down on top of it. Daryn pops open a beer, and takes a long swig. He tries to order popcorn but they don't serve popcorn here, so he has to just make do with his drink--he does put in for a cheeseburger, however.

Daryn believes the world will forgive anybody if they thinks it makes them safer. Rather than say this he merely smiles and says, "Woo woo!" every so often.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Zero transmits, "Pretty damn sure."

Layer just glances at Daryn, exposed eyes visibly staaaaring him down just a little. She's tempted to eye laser him, but resists the urge. Maybe a little Darynpidity might help alleviate the tension.

"I mention making a change and you talk about how no one would redeem you first, not how you don't care to be redeemed And I'm comparing myself to you because that's what brought you here, remember?" Zero states, merely giving a brow twitch toward Daryn. While others might enjoy the antics of Daryn, all Zero sees the is the backstabber that continues to elude Zero's blade through a mix of skill and luck. The urge to kill is rising, but still suppressible. "As for freedom and your views on death? I'm not entirely convinced of either, but hunches aren't something I debate over."

Outside in the lobby 'Evans' curses a bit, allready in process of hooking his arms into the armpits of the real Habeeb, who was neatly holographically disguised as the table the magazine the fake Habeeb had replaced at the onset. Evans grunts as he gets him out into the center of the room and produces a small blade, jamming it into the base of the corpse's skull where he thinks he'll find the implant Signas is talking about, if there even is one.

Several unsavoury thoughts about Signas turning what should have been a very easy job into a largely difficult one float about simultaneously between the two selves, as 'Habeeb' taps the back of his head with a well nuanced response to Signas inquiry, "Oh, yes, the security implant, " He lenas foreward raising a hand to his mouth to 'aside' to Signas as if anyone might be listening, "If you ever get work done don't trust the mexicans or even the Mwokozi Triads or whatever the hell. The real japanese Yakuza they know what they're doing, and they even do business here in town now..."

He motions for Signas to follow him into another room containing a large and dangerous looking scanning apparatus with a chair and a pull down helmet that would fully envelope the head. "...Anyway, I haven't gotten it replaced yet and it's always going on the fritz. You know? Mexicans." he sighs, while Evans grins with success as he digs a chunk of ceramics out of the skull with a tell-tale blinking red diode on it.

Habeeb pulls the helmet down over his own head and begins feeding fake data onto the machines viewscreens as the machine powers up, impatiently overriding its slow warmup time since he's just faking it anyway. "So let's take a look shall we. There it is, and, let's deactivate it." He presses some buttons on the remote in his hand as Evans takes the cue and crushes it in his hand while disguising the body as a roll of carpet.

"I merely said I wanted to be 'better'," Dragonfly says. "You started going on about how many people you killed. That's a problem with YOUR twisted definition of 'better,' not mine."

"Hi, Daryn."

Dragonfly then looks back at Zero. "It almost makes me wonder why you jumped to that definition immediately. You could've chosen any vector at all by which to declare your superiority to mine. You could have said, that you're better with a sword, that you've saved more lives than I have which is probably true, or that there's more fan doujinchis of you, which is also very likely true. Instead, you went right to bodycount."

He pauses, then types an order for his own cheeseburger in to the automatic ordering machine. "Well, body count and hair."

[Radio: (C) A Chat] Midnight Epiphyllum transmits, "Alert, Magnet man is looking for explosives. He is possibly going to go after a munitions dump."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "I wonder which one this is."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Insult Epsilon or Wily and see how he reacts?"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "Neither of them is that much of an amateur, unfortunately."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Depends on how nasty you make it."

"Howdy." Daryn grins easily. He can read what Zero thinks of him in his eyes. If Daryn cared about the opinion of Zero, it might have even put a damper on his mood. Unfortunately, Zilch's opinion of Daryn is worth just that to Daryn. He is already making plans for him.

"Debate is a method of testing opposing philosophies or viewpoints to improve their strength." Daryn adds for some reason. He opens his mouth and waggles his tongue.

Signas allows himself an internal smile. "Yes of course, it is a tragedy what passes for quality labour these days." The Diplomat accesses the technical specifications of the scanning unit in question inside his brain, and frowns at the data mis-match.

"You must have given this machine quite the tune-up. The Japanese, I take it?" Signas walks over to the console, resting a hand on it. "Normally this unit takes at least three times as long to cycle up. And the lighting pattern seems to have been customised as well."

A beat passes. Without turning from the screen, Signas speaks to the 'man' behind him again. "The real Dragonfly is enjoying a lively debate with Zero just across the street right now, you know." Another beat. The corner of his mouth quirks. "Did you think we didn't see you in the van..."

Signas turns, finger pointing rigidly towards 'Habeeb'. "... DARK MAN?!"

Layer looks down. This is not faring well. Part of her knows that they're both like, this far away from erupting in a fight. And she doesn't want Zero provoked into a fight.

So she thinks a bit. And then smirks, popping a small panel out of her arm. Perhaps she can interrupt things a little bit, she thinks.

She sets the panel down in between the two of them on a table, before playing a video file out of it in her data banks. It's that new meme. A 3D-rendered Signas pops out, with a podium in front of him, as he yells, "WHY CAN'T WE ALL GET ALONG?!" before shoving the podium off into its destruction.

It's so pointlessly silly that it would either get a 'not now!' or ignorance out of both, or cause them both to crack up if only a little. Layer hopes for the latter.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Very smooth, Signas."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Smooth like sandpaper."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "50/50 chance, we shall see."

Provoked into a fight.... Isn't that why he went here in the first place? Zero looks toward the holo-Signas before just going back toward the talk at hand. "I went to the /action/ of killing after discussing the choice to change your life, not how many." Zero states calmly as he glances over toward Dragonfly. "/You/ made it about numbers and size. Then you say I'm trying to prove I'm better than you after you are the one talking about it in the first place. o/~ Projeeeeeecting. o/~" He turns his attention back to Daryn. He opens his mouth to say something, only to close it back up and turn back toward Dragonfly. Yeah, Zero's logic is faulty and he tends to shoot himself in the foot, but talking things out with enemies was Rock's thing, not his.

Michael Eildath's group has mostly finished their burgers now, and are filing outside. It's better to be outside when there's about to be a fight, Mike pausing to leave a healthy tip for the serving staff... and waiting to give it directly to them. He shoves his hands in his pockets on his way out, and he grins as he passes the main group. "Hello, Luna," he says to the rock star, smiling smarmily.

Dragonfly ignores Layer. Now that he has a woman to come home to, this doesn't take as much effort as it might have a year or so ago.

He listens to Zero's sing-songy logic, then, shrugs a shoulder. "All right. So, if I were to take your advice, since you're such a winner who always makes great decisions, what should I do with my life?"

As Michael Eildath leaves along with the other in his group, something feels odd. Perhaps they were being watched.

Even as the day begins to give into night, the crisp air and soft blowing wind seems to welcome them to the outside world.

And the red light that appears as a dot among one of Mike's friends heads seems to do the same.

Except in a much different sense.

Evans strolls back in, covered in blood from his impromptu surgery and not caring to do anything about it at this late stage in the game. And he thinks to himself, Signas is allready pretty pissed at him, might as well let him be pissed at Dark Man.

"Yeah, you got me. You're so smart Signas. A real testament to the good works the Hunters are all about. At least moreso than that long haired murderpants downstairs. I think I saw him stopping by my Gun Kitchen before he came in for burgers." The holographic double in the scanning equipment simply fades out of existence completely and the emulation drive kicks in, the resultant silhouette which fades into Evans' place results in a very dangerous paradox...

Two Dragonflies in the same room. Good thing they're technically a hundred yards apart with walls and stuff in between. A ball of ice rapidly forms in his hands and he hefts it a few times testing the weight. "But seriously. " He throws it. "Get bent."

Lumine changes into its Dragonfly armor.

Lumine strikes you with a minor hit from its Ice Ball attack

Well, THAT failed.

Layer takes back the little holo-display. A fun attempt. But, something seems wrong here. Not that she can pin it on anything specific... but something just... doesn't seem right. She shakes it off, actually eating her burger now. Fortunately, Layer doesn't really care about the temperature too much.

Daryn glances towards the holo-Signas because it's very loud. He can't tell if it's a real or a fake, however. He blinks, laugs, and scratches his nose. Daryn is probably not here to fight so much as engage in, as surmised, Darynpidity.

"Hey Got-The-Clap-From-Fairy," Daryn is still a little sore--but he seems about--80 percent less grumpy than he did during the actual battle.

"How's your mistress?" Daryn asks, likely referring to Mike's bike.

The Killer in Crimson gives another slight shrug. "Stop being a b****. You want to get somewhere, you fight for a cause, not for a person. You serve Wily as his little counterterrorist, you're Teresa's boytoy, but you think that's gunna make you happy? My life might be a mess, but at least I'm at the steering wheel. Piece by piece it's coming together... It just takes time. There, I've done my good deed. You gunna leave peacefully with your comedic relief..." Zero signels Daryn with a causal wave of his hand. "...or you want to get a nice can of whoop ass too?"

"Pff, Daryn, you know she was too cold to harbor STDs." Mike waves a dismissive hand at Daryn, grinning still. "And she's just fine, thank you for asking. How's the ball and chain?" Probably referring to Maddy.

When the laser sight dot appears, the reaction is instant, Mike's group scattering into the shadows. They disappear quickly and efficiently in all different directions. As for the target, Mike shoves him back into the building, interposing himself between his soldier and the laser beam.

...?!

Layer snaps to attention, dropping the cheeseburger as Mike bolts out the door. The hell...?! She promptly gets out of her seat, starting to run over.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "It would appear that there will be a fight momentarily."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer transmits, "What form has he taken and what's your situation? Also, Mike, what's wrong?"

Daryn hefts up a ball and chain, seemingly attached to his other leg, and sets it on the table. "Well I'm glad you asked th--" And Mike runs off before he can give a proper answer.

Daryn frowns. "Man, that's just rude." He crosses his arms petulantly. "Eh, Dragonfly can take you. S'long as you're not cheap and use bombs or something."

"Hh," Signas grunts by way of reply, turning to face 'Dragonfly' as he claims to be Dark Man in turn. The Hunter frowns. "Yes, the gun kitchen was a stroke of genius," he deadpans, hands clenching into fists. As Dragonfly forms a ball of ice, Signas dashes forwards, preparing to strike.

And the ice ball slams straight into him, sending him flying through the emporium's wall and out onto the street, where he slams into the asphalt and skids for a few meters, leaving a deep furrow in the road. A moment later, he's on his feet. "Hello again, I decided to drop in," he says neutrally to the gathered Hunters, Dragonflies and Daryns. Then, he's off again, leaping back up towards the hole in the building. "You don't get off that easily, Dark Man!"

Signas' right shoulder whirrs, opens up and spins. The assault cannon builds itself from the components hidden inside the round epaulette, then swivels into place, aimed at Dragonfly inside. Once that's done, it fires off a large slug towards the shapechanging menace.

You miss Lumine with your Assault Cannon Shot attack.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "Armored as Dragonfly."

Lumine chuckles and blinks past the slug as he comes out into the road and the mess of hunter's spilling out of the burger joint, wings snapping out and the second Dragonfly flutters lazily above the scene, eyeing the crowd disdainfully as he sends a shower of icy hailstones raining down at Signas. It's as if he's shouting 'here I am' to the crowd of battlehungry Hunters, and lovetaps at Signas. <3

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "Still unsure on identity. I assume Dark Man due to his presence in San Angeles, but I could be wrong."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer transmits, "...lovely."

Lumine strikes you with a glancing hit from its Generic Ranged attack

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Sniper."

Search Man had been too slow. The dot had been seen. The group scatters. Even Michael Eildath moves to protect the man, interposing himself between the line of fire and the man itself.

The red dot doesn't, it actually reaims itself, taking purchase upon Michael's chest, the dot gleaming powerfully as it hovers undignified. For seconds, the bullet should have come, but no bullet does.

Instead, a 'fwoosh' sound echos among the many rooftops as a small dot appears among the horizon, rocketfuel burning as it's sent across the sky, arcing down towards Michael Eildath, moving towards his chest, aiming to blow him into the building without giving him time to ready himself.

Bass said to not to kill anyone. Fortunately, Michael cannot die.

Search Man strikes Michael Eildath with his Laser-guided Missile attack.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer transmits, "That's what I thought. ...MIKE!"

The Dragonfly at the table doesn't realize that the other effectively transformed from one person to the other in a public location. This is something he doesn't really do, as if he were still keeping up appearances that Dragonfly and Gemini Man were different people. He narrows his eyes again at Zero's most recent comment.

He then sighs. "Yes. Being her 'boytoy,' as you put it, does actually make me happy."

He shudders inside, his right fist clenching. ...Not that you'd understand, he thinks. Her cause is my cause.

He glances over toward Signas's interruption, which is short-lived. It distracts him all the same.

"I ordered food so I'm not leaving on my own. You want to make me leave, your call."

Signas lands on the ledge, assault cannon swiveling to point upwards now that it's temporarily not in use. The Diplomat looks up and back, searching for the false Dragonfly in the sky. "Where... th--" Signas is cut off by a hailstone dropping directly into his mouth, down into his throat, and lodging there. Hands fly up to his neck. "Ggk! Gak!" he coughs, trying to force the ice out of his throat. After a few moments he does, and turns to narrow his eyes at 'Dragonfly'. "Very well. Fisticuffs are in order."

Grabbing a large brick which had already fallen out of the wall, Signas latches the other hand on to the ledge of the floor above him, then pulls up, gains purchase with his feet, and launches himself into the sky, towards 'Dragonfly'. As he soars, the hand holding the brick swings around, aiming to slam the brick into the enemy's head.

You miss Lumine with your Generic Melee attack.

Mike's crew have all vanished, keenly aware that they can be trapped on the streets, especially in such a vulnerable position. That doesn't mean they've fled, however, and word is being passed around once they're off street level, positions are being triangulated, and such.

Michael has enough time and presence of mind to twist to one side as the rocket hits, taking the blow on one of his jacket's thick Neo-Kevlar pads. Even so, the impact throws him back through the doors of the restaurant, crashing into a table and coming to stop in a pile of flindered wood. He doesn't move... not for a moment or two, anyway.

Daryn gets his cheeseburger. He bites into it. After he swallows he adds, "This is our territory. If you'd like, I can call an entire squad of Robot Masters in to kill you and you can end up like Blues--an armor form for someone else."

Unfortunately, Layer doesn't get to him in time.

Mike's missiled, flung back into the restaurant. Layer's stuck with a harsh decision at the moment, but hoping and riding on the resilience of Mike's men, backtracks to Mike himself, her concern over the commander's life compelling her to check on him. Concerned, green eyes gaze over him as the purplehead immediately makes it over to his side, positioning herself between the windows and the man in front of her.

"Mike!" Layer calls out, trying to get him to wake up, before shoving whatever wood might've fallen on him, and then lifting him out of that mess onto clean, but bloodied floor, looking him over. She was no medic, but there were medics on the line, after all...

Layer begins covering Michael Eildath.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer transmits, "Mike's hit, standby..."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "Hh. If only Lifesaver had returned from Maui."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Cinnamon transmits, "Is something up?"

Even after the shot, Search Man isn't standing around. A sniper that stands still is dead. He knows that all to well. To get behind you is the idea of every combatant. He doesn't need a spotter either. His second head rotates about to make sure he doesn't miss a moment of any action that could be happening, or even may be happening.

As he prepares to move to a closer building, the dot disappears, instead giving way for time to Search Man to load the next weapon of his choice. As the search scope breaks open, smoke is let up into the air, and ammo is loaded in place.

All this happens as Search Man watches below, awaiting anyone attempting to leave the restaurant. The sniper assault won't clear up into he's pushed away, or the building everyone is in is leveled.

Search Man forfeits a turn to charge WE.

"It won't last," Zero states. "But I don't expect you to believe me. Even if you do, you still have three seconds to get the hell out." Perhaps Zero has never been in a situation like Gemini's; Zero has never sacrificed his freedom for another person like Gem has. Zero does remember loving Iris though. He sacrificed pride and time, changing who he was for her. But the joy they had together didn't last. She was not the perfect girl he she was, he wasn't the cause worth saving like she thought, and in time, they changed so that they may never be happy again. Part of him almost hopes that doesn't happen to Gemini. The bastard in Zero hopes it comes soon.

As for himself, Zero doesn't have much. His comrade in arms is dead, the guy that made stuff like this fun more often than not. There is no woman Z can curl up with when the cold of night comes. All he has left is moments like this. When he summon his inner strength and fight a battle worth having. Perhaps one day he'll find something more. He hopes so. Zero's armor shifts into his slick and powerful Arcadian style, remembering the power of the Dragonfly. He won't underestimate it this time. Glancing back to Daryn, he smirks. "If you want to do that, I won't stop you. I just want to deal with DragonflyTwo and Search Man in peace. If you have a problem with that, Daryn, then take it up with me."

Zero changes into his Zero Arcadia armor.

The Dragonfly that is fighting Signas is rather glad that the Dragonfly engaged in 'coffeetalk' with Zero is none-the-wiser as to his shenanigans so far, as he has no desire to sow bad blood and enmity this late in the game. Although all he really wanted was to walk out of Habeeb's with all of Habeeb's stuff... Stupid Signas.

Those kids that were messing around with fireworks are long gone, having long since set off all the fireworks, but Dragonfly thinks thye had the right idea. "Eat a Dick Signas." He comments coolly as he blinks behind the Hunter as the Hunter rises to the occassion but too slowly to strike. Dragonfly reaches out to grab his opponent's shoulders as they both begin to plummet siphoning any heat away rapidly plunging the area touching those palms into dangerous sub-zero temperatures. "Looks like your hunting party is busy Signas, it's just you and me..."

Lumine strikes you with a minor hit from its Cold Damage attack

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "This is not going well."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer transmits, "Fall back if you need to."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "F*** that shit, get out there and help him."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Zero transmits, "...Hrm."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Roll transmits, "You can do it!"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "He's... too... fast! Hgk!"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Layer, what part of get out there and help did you not hear the first time?"

Bass has arrived. Bass drops "The Sene". Bass has left. "The Sene" is now listening.

"Hgk!" Signas emits, as the icy touch spreads along his shoulders. He swings his arms upwards, the ice cracking (along with the frozen armor), attempting to grab hold of 'Dragonfly'. "I fail to see any reason why... I would ever eat a dick," Signas counters, reasonably.

Then, he attempts to grab on to Dragonfly's head and flip him forward and down towards the ground. "I do not need a 'hunting party' to deal with the likes of you, who cannot even face the world... in his own clothing."

You miss Lumine with your Over-shoulder Toss attack.

Michael Eildath pushes himself out of the rubble of the table he just now found himself in, checking himself over for serious injury. He hurts like a bitch, but he's still intact. He'll have to ask Lifesaver to look at his ribs later. He scowls at Layer. "STOP STANDING THERE AND DO SOMETHING! I'M NOT A DAMN PAPER DOLL!"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Cinnamon transmits, "Sweet!"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer transmits, "Signas, your location?!"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "Look up."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer, angry, "Copy."

It won't last? That thought... hurts. Dragonfly puts it out of his mind. It will last.

Zero prepares himself. Dragonfly doesn't move. "I can't be held responsible for the safety of civilians in this location if you should decide to raise a hand to me."

At this point, several of the other patrons dive under their tables.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Sniper's still out there. Got men looking for him."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Mac terrible beatbox music plays.

"You're human, damn it!" Layer snaps back as Mike yells. "I'm not about to see you ki-- tch!"

She pauses mid-sentence, bolting out the door. He's right, though she's worried about him getting out there and getting his ass sniped again. She bolts down the roadway, before literally kicking onto a building and bolting up its side thanks to grapple and magnetic systems. Hang on, Signas, she's coming...

Layer is no longer covering anyone.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer transmits, "If you die, Mike, I will kill you. Stay safe. I'm en route, Signas."

"Hm." Daryn says, looking over to Gemini. He sends a tightbeam, and then takes another bite of his burger. Maybe he's considering Zero's words--or maybe he just wants to finish his meal before getting violent.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Mac transmits, "Getting my helmet on, I'm deploying."

There is a shake of his head as they land on the ground and Dragontwo resists Signas' amorous advances, grabbing at the Hunter's hands as he tries to throw him. "Because of the Children Signas. The correct answer: The Children."

• CRUNCH* And Dragontwo attempts to crunch those grasping hands.

Lumine strikes you with a glancing hit from its Generic Melee attack

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "I'm not made of glass, dammit. I've been fighting this war for twenty f***ing years."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Dr. Cain transmits, "Mike can take care of himself."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer transmits, "You're not a god. I will not see you die in front of me like I have many others, human and robot, in this war. I'm sorry for the hesitation and brief concern but I had to check. We'll talk later."

Even as Search Man takes aim once more, he manages to see Layer sprint out of the front door and quickly get out of the line of fire. That's no good, he needs to get moving. Otherwise, she's going to catch him, and it might just be the end of the event at all. Even so, he's unsure that Layer is actually heading for him.

But a sniper always comes prepared. Making his way from one building to the next, Search Man takes a running leap to the higher building, coming down quickly upon the roof of a building five stories shorter across the street, breaking into a roll as he manages to make it.

But something's left for Layer as she goes, a grenade that was tossed towards preemptively, mid leap, attempting to delay Layer, if nothing else. Search Man is taking anyone that presents themselves as targets.

Search Man strikes Layer with his Grenade attack.

"What, the children with the fireworks?" Signas replies, gasping as the cold bits into his massive hands. "Hng, they will learn. They must learn... for their own good!"

The assault cannon on his shoulder swivels up again, point-blank to the flying 'Dragonfly's' belly. "Speaking of education, I hope this will teach you the folly of grappling a larger enemy."

KAPOW.

You strike Lumine with a glancing hit from your Assault Cannon Aimed Shot attack.

"Do you see what I did there," he deadpans. "I used a /gun/."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "I never claimed to be a god. But I'm man enough to take a licking and keep moving."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer sounds mad. "Plenty of the blue men said that. I watched one of them who said similar words get headshot in front of me. By the very man who just fired at you, no less. We will talk LATER."

Layer's hit by the grenade as she makes her way over, frustration visible. The grenade hurts, but it's just a grenade. She keeps heading toward Signas...

...eventually bursting through the nearest window, flicking both hands outward as B Fans fly from both her hands, flung at Lumine.

Layer strikes Lumine with her Double Fan Boomerang attack.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Roll transmits, "We sure will!"

As Search Man fires, a volley of answering fire echoes from the streets, rockets trained on his new position from a handful of bolt-holes in the nearby buildings. Mike's men didn't flee... they just grabbed their guns to chase off the sniper.

Mike doesn't waste time, either. He shouts to the people in the restaurant in a commanding voice. "On your feet, everybody. We're getting out of here. This way."

"If these people are dumb enough to stay around here when one of the big bad assassins is in the same room with the big bad swordsman, that's their own damn fault. I'll do my best to keep it to a low if you will though," Zero states calmly as he tries to grab Dragonfly by the neck. Should he get a hold of the guy, he'll attempt to toss him out of the closest window. Sometimes, simple is better.

Zero misses Gemini Man with his Generic Melee attack.

Sometimes, it isn't.

Lumine smiles as Signas finally manages to strike him, the bullet tearing into his waist and some fluid pouring out. Ice begins to form, crystals rapidly spinning about eachother, and gaining mass and form when

---Layer's boomerang snakes out of the background to smack him in the back of the head. Dragonfly smirks at Signas, abandoning the hammer idea as he blinks, blinking and reappearing in the air. He arcs up releasing a snowstorm which funnels into two arcs which home in on the two hunters, and then a blast of electricity hammers through the precipitation at the last moment finalizing the strike.

Lumine strikes Layer with its Shocking Snow attack.

Lumine strikes you with a solid hit from its Shocking Snow attack

Dragonfly was ready for Zero to attack, since Zero obviously threatened to do so. He expected it would come in the form of a blade, but, the grapple isn't entirely a surprise.

He jumps under the table when Zero goes for the grab, the move rattling silverware and knocking over his own glass of water on to the table. It pours off, in a drizzle in front of him, and he reaches out for the dripping strand, and grabs it as if he were grabbing a solid object. In less than a second, it is in fact a solid object, going from a drizzle of water into a frozen shard right in his hand. He grabs the icicle, and stabs it toward Zero's toe. "I feel equally bad for your friends dealing with me across the street," he quips.

Gemini Man strikes Zero with his Generic Melee attack.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Mac transmits, "Do you have coordinates on the sniper yet?"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer transmits, "I have an estimation based on the trajectory of a grenade thrown at me."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer transmits numbers.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Jives with what my guys are telling me. They're on fire support right now. I don't have enough Men in the area to do a full scale sweep."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Roll transmits, "Do you have a grenade launcher somewhere? If there's a tall building that's intact across the street -"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "I have explosives available, but I took a bad hit already. After I get these civilians clear, I'm going for a sniper position."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Roll typing into Google Earth, "Anyway, if you can get a fuze delay on the grenade's electronics, you could ricochet a round off the window spacing and land within a meter of the sniper's position."

Daryn doesn't get an answer to his queston, the Rocker realizes. What is it with power that makes you forget about these things? He should probably teach Gemini Man an object lesson about this, but he still owes Zero. "Hm." He says again, and stuffs the burger into his mouth. Nyom. He seems to be done with his burger now.

Daryn pulls his legs back and closes his eyes, letting out a low whistle--

--before he kicks the table over towards Zero's body. It's more of a backtable than a backstab, in this particular case.

Signas drops from 'Dragonfly's' hands and falls towards the ground, bracing to roll with the impact. It looks like it's going to work... until the ELECTRIC SNOW crackles to life around him. "Oh not again," he grumbles, before the electricity surges through his vulnerable body, sending sparks flying out from his joints and causing him to spasm uncontrollably. He slams face-first into the ground, and it is several long moments before he gets up again.

When he does, he pushes his face up first, shaking his head to clear it. Then, slowly, he gets back to his feet and looks up, searching for the fake Dragonfly. "Ah. There you are," he says, voice flat, not faltering. He stares, and then he is no longer there. And then, he is in the air, just above 'Dragonfly'. One fist pistons diagonally for the shapeshifter's back, then the other hand for the back of his head.

You strike Lumine with a minor hit from your Cross Counter attack.

"Nngh!" Layer lets out as the cloud of snow and ice covers and strikes her. It's not a move she can deflect or ease; her entire body courses with the pain of it, sending the Huntress to the ground briefly, a fist planted on the ground keeping her level, before rising after the shock of it is over.

She's not playing around at all, and while her eyes show frustration, she's not letting that get in the way of her abilities at all. She weaves in with her sword, maneuvering in quickly, before approaching with a twirling slash aimed at the foe. Eyes glance briefly to Signas for a second after she does this.

Layer misses Lumine with her Moulinet attack.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer transmits, "Signas, I haven't seen you fight in a while. Do you have any means of fighting without being right up in front of your opponent?"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Roll transmits, "I think Signas's specialization is melee. I haven't seen his specs in a while."

Daryn strikes Zero with his Generic Melee attack.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Dr. Cain transmits, "We had to alter it a little."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer transmits, "Alright, then. I was going to suggest standing behind me for a little bit since you've taken more hits than I."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Dr. Cain transmits, "Some of the weapons drives were interfering with energy output, so we changed it."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Dr. Cain transmits, "And well."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Dr. Cain transmits, "He liked killing zombies up close."

Even as Search Man moves, he makes himself another cubby. A spot to hide and not be noticed, but that's not before Mike decides to take command, rockets exploding on his heels as he moves. He's unable to get a reasonable shot on anyone as he makes his way about them. Rockets, unlike his missiles, may be less well aimed.

A sniper with missiles preferably knows his weapons, just like a marine with his gun. "Rockets? They're using rockets on us?" "They don't even have the payload that could seriously damage us. Leave it to rookies." Search Man states, "Evade them anyways, stay away from edges that can be blown away. Keep on your feet." Search Man announces to himself as he once more slams into his new position, a smokestack.

Taking two seconds to aim, he begins peppering Signas with a quick burst of lead, attempting to distract him. His enemies are the Blue Men. All of them.

Search Man strikes you with a glancing hit from his Machine Gun attack

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "Hh."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "I have many means of ranged combat."

God, why do evil people always recruit snipers?! Why! Mac was already on the way to San Angeles to help Signas, but word of a sniper makes Mac pull the two person air transport hover buggy about as he descends on the 'Scans and Eats Plaza'. Get a scan, eat a sandwich, then scan yourself again!

Mac pulls the hover buggy down low and starts sweeping over the building Search man threw the grenade from. Hm. Could have been a drone. Mac shifts the hover buggy about in the air once more, starting to scan the horizon. Shoots fired! Mac starts moving in that direction.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Cinnamon transmits, "Missiles!"

Accursed Dragonfly He forgot how agile Gemini was in this form. Before he can pick up the table and smash it upon Gemini's head though, he finds an icicle lodged in his foot. Unable to move for the time being, Zero goes with the original plan he had before he received his painful counter.

The table is ripped up, the powerful swordsman about to bring it down when Daryn jumps into the fray, knocking another table into him. Daryn owes Zero, but according to Zero's count, Z still hasn't gotten his revenge so Daryn can't get revenge on him. Revenge doesn't count until it actually works and Daryn SOMEHOW managed to summon the awesome inside him to deflect real ultimate power. But when there is Haterade involved on both sides, it's always hard to keep score and Zero has other things to worry about. Despite the pain, Zero just unleashes his table rage upon Dragonfly, trying to crush him into itty-bitty bits by hitting him over and over again until the table falls apart.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Dr. Cain transmits, "'Enemies'."

Zero misses Gemini Man with his Pummel attack.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Roll transmits, "The only problem with missiles is when you have an ammunition shortage."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Cinnamon transmits, "Bricks?"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Dr. Cain transmits, "Have brick, will travel!"

Dragonfly turns his back on Signas turning to regard the bold Layer and nimbly leaping aside from her strike. "I'm not sure this is going to work out the way you pla---

There is a sharp exclamation as Signas brings the Death From Above <TM> Dragonfly drops from the weight and an impact crater forms beneath the two largish and potent fighting-robots. Dragontwo blinks, appearing behind Layer ice swirling to form a short and broad cone.

Signas is still ignored, a brazen and cocksure move to be sure as the ice suddenly melts, the water swirls and sprays around Layer before the Dragonfly copy sucks all the heat out of it, potentially pulling even greater amounts of moisture out of the Huntress' body.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "I will demonstrate one of these abilities now."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer sounds hurt, stammering, "Please... do..."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Mac, ETA?"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Mac transmits, "Coordinates were off, I'm trying to track down the sniper."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "I have him."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "I will fire a tracer round at him."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "By 'tracer round' I mean 'assault cannon shell'. Look for the impact."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Moving to a sniper position of my own. Rockets on sniper's position, too."

Mike hurriedly evacuates the building, hustling patrons not into the alleyway, but into the safety of the sewers, a few Blue Men leading them out to safety beyond the immediate field of battle. Mike goes with them a little way, but not for long, separating at a basement access and vaulting up the stairs of a building nearby, sniper rifle in hand.

More rockets streak towards Search Man's position, and yes, they are small, but they're still going to hurt if they hit home. This is San Angeles after all, the city that once had the most heavily-armed police in the entire world. They know and love their ordnance here.

Signas lands heavily on the ground, in a three-point stance. But he doesn't take any time to nurse his many wounds. He just gets up, and keeps moving. Towards Dragontwo. That is, until he is attacked from behind by a machine gun.

The Diplomat's head swivels between the tracked trajectory of Search Man's assault and Dragontwo's attack of Layer. His teeth grit, and he reaches up to force the frozen assault cannon down into the position he needs. "I am no mere pugillist," he mutters. And then, Blink.

He appears behind Layer and Dragontwo. One shot is fired. Blink.

He appears in the air, above the rooftops. He forces the cannon into a new alignment, sighting back up along the trajectory of Search Man's attack. Calculations fly through his powerful brain. Another shot is fired. And then Signas is on the ground again.

Two bullets strike... but do they strike true?

You strike Search Man with a minor hit from your Assault Cannon Strafe attack.

You strike Lumine with a glancing hit from your Assault Cannon Strafe attack.

Having missed Daryn's asking for advice over the radio, Dragonfly is a little surprised when Daryn attacks Zero with the table to help him out. In retrospect, however, he has no idea why this would be surprising since Daryn pretty much always gets involved when he's attacked. On THIRD thought he guesses he doesn't really mind, but then again, he does, since Dragonfly does have some pride about his abilities and it's hard for him to feel he's getting a proper test of them when Daryn double teams with him.

Gemini can easily hold three different conflicting thoughts with his current upgrades.

He rolls out from underneath the table as Zero crushes it down, ending up rolling to underneath a booth across the diner. Then he rolls forward, and stands up. "I'll handle it," he says to Daryn, personal ego taking over slightly.

He then pulls around his impromptu icicle weapon, and stabs it at Zero's gut. This time, he lets go of it after the motion, to hopefully just leave it there.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "Contact. Do you see him, Mac."

Gemini Man strikes Zero with his Ice Dagger attack.

It almost takes her out right then and there.

Layer's eyes widen as the attack comes her way. And, in every sense of the word, it's brutal. Layer herself has very little protection against water, which has been her weakness since the day she was born, and as the water sprays around her, getting into her body, into her core, it's as if everything, to the Huntress, stops. She drops her sword in the moment of sheer power as trembling arms and legs fall limp, systems getting flooded, not responding. Short-circuits shock her, twitching her body; pain rattles her core, but a malfunctioning vocal system cannot convey her scream; her entire body is surrendered in a heartbeat to her one weakness as she sinks to her knees, and then to the ground... with a loud thud.

The fact that Layer's conscious is a miracle. But another one will do her in. Perhaps even kill her, as her entire body spasms with the pain coursing through every vein within her.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Mac transmits, "See a hit, I'm going in."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "Good."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Godspeed, Mac. I'll cover the area, see what I can do to help while I can."

Those Who Hunt Dragonflies. Daryn chuckles as Zero grabs his own table and tries to beat Gemini Man with it. He approves of the way this battle is going.

Daryn may care more about his own method of deciding who owes who over Zero's. This is probably not urprising. Daryn removes his helmet and place a salt shaker inside before placing it back on his head. Part of some hidden training?! Probably pain training if it starts getting into his injuries. Urrggh.

Daryn's about to grab at Zero's throat and throw him into the Legends Universe when Gemini Man gives his assurance. Daryn thinks it over and nods, sitting back down in his chair and turning to watch. If Gemini gets over his head, he can always jump in again later.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Civilians are out of the restaurant."

Search Man doesn't even notice Mac yet. He just finds out that Signas decides that the course of action is to fire a bullets directly into Search Man's attack. It strikes home, sending Search Man backwards as he's driven towards the side of the building. Unable to truly get anything out of the assault, Search Man braces himself.

Leaping off the edge of the building, Search Man heads for the fire escape to get out of the way of the many rockets being fired towards him. He's successfully forced off, but he's not done. And he has a wound in his chest. It's rather painful.

But he'll get through it.

Some days he doesn't pay to get out of bed. The powerful berserker finds that his table assault missed again. If he doesn't hit this guy at all, Zero might have to resort to more basic and savage forms of fighting. Oddly enough, sometimes Zero has to forgo finesse to have the speed and accuracy needed to kill. For the time being, Zero has other things to worry about. Like a dagger in the gut. Zero takes a step back, deciding that play time is over. Drawing his own weapon, the Z-Sabre hums through the air as he gives a simple slice for Gemini's right arm, trying to lop it off. The Beserker had hoped to keep the fight outside, but clearly this place isn't letting Zero have things His Way... He KNEW they shoulda gone to Burger King.

Zero misses Gemini Man with his Z-sabre attack.

"Maybe you need the help?" Daryn asks of Zero.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Mac transmits, "Crap. I see him. Search Man."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "You can take him. Two heads are not always better than one."

Orders are spread, and the rocketmen disperse, not willing to stay long enough to get caught and killed at their task. Mac is coming, and that should be enough.

Mike gets to a rooftop, falling down into a crouch and casting a ghillie suit covered in foamcrete chunks and grey cloth over his body to obscure his profile. He steadies his sniper rifle, looking for a target.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Dr. Cain transmits, "Throw a cheez it between both of their heads."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Zero transmits, "Fighting Gemini in his Dragonfly armor with Daryn doing his usual vulture on the sidelines. Do I need to lend my aid and help out elsewhere too?"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "I will not last much longer here, barring a lucky blow."

Dragontwo smiles as then there is one, again. Blinking above the former Commanding Officer of the Hunters, a military throwback to Repliforce, the failed but recently renewed effort to bring military decorum to a hungry band of vigilantes, Dragonfly descends rapidly, using a tactic that worked very well for Signas moments ago.

Signas' bullets fired earlier strike home, tearing a hole in the shoulder, fluid and fragments of armour clattering to the wartorn and dilapidated street below. Blades are ready as Dragontwo descends, hungry ports ready to feast on his opponents Life Energy as he attempts to impale the slicers deep within the Hunter's breast.

Lumine strikes you with a solid hit from its Slicer Siphon attack

Lumine drains energy from you.

You fall to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage.

Dragonfly backs up against a table, bending his waist backwards to avoid the Z-saber slice, then reeling his arm around. In the process of this, he knocks over an abandoned Coke. A second later, he figures that will be useful, and sweeps his hand across it. The moisture gathers up in to his palm, moving liquid for a couple of seconds. Then, it directs up in to his fingers, lining up to make elegant curved claws on his right hand.

As he stands up properly, he looks at them. His expression is quizzical for a moment; the golden brown coloration is different from his usual jewel-like blue. "You know that may actually be kind of tasty," he comments. He holds his hand out toward Zero, and smiles. "Want to try?" He dives forward and slashes at Zero's face with the sharpened claws.

Gemini Man misses Zero with his Carve And Filet attack.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Signas transmits, "Hgk--*"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Roll transmits, "Signas!!"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer's reply is staticky. "S-- ..n-na...s!"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Dr. Cain transmits, "Hm. Oh dear."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Dammit. OK, plan two."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Layer, pull yourself together and get him out of there. I'll distract him."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer transmits, "I... *fzzt*ry"

There it is. Mac sees the shot. A big assault shell. Hell of a tracer round. Mac twists his arms about and pulls back, yanking the buggy in another swerve towards the firing of rockets and shells. Ah! Search Man.

Mac puts the Hover Buggy on fly about, leaping out over the edge of the seat. Both wide feet hit the building with a carefully balanced expert landing that makes him tip over and have to start moving forward to avoid flopping over on his face. He starts pumping his arms to get back on his balance and leaps onto the next building, putting one foot onto the ledge and taking a leap that ends once more in that awkward running landing.

Fire escape, awesome.

Michael Eildath curses under his breath. This just isn't going well. He lines up a shot, praying quietly as he loads a tranquilizer round into the KR-80 he's used for years. He prays that his aim hasn't gotten rusty with so much time in the Desperado. The gun is whisper-quiet as the round fires, the tranq lancing towards 'Dragonfly.'

. o O (C'mon, Layer, pull yourself together, girl.)

Michael Eildath strikes Lumine with his Tranq Kr-80 Sniper Rifle attack.

Lumine is temporarily disoriented by Michael Eildath's Tranq Kr-80 Sniper Rifle attack.

"Screw you, Daryn!" is the Hunter XO's simple response to the extreme rocker. As Gemini comes for him, Zero has enough warning and time to see the attack coming. He manages to roll out of the way, narrowing avoiding having his face clawed up. He stays in a crouching position, merely gritting his teeth to hear things aren't going too well outside too. He doesn't have TIME to mess around with these people. His friends need him.

Deciding it time to try and kill both people that attacked him (considering how Daryn is the sort to butt in when the fight's over and/or ending), the Hunter gives a mighty sweep of his sword. While the edge of the blade will only nail Dragonfly if it hits, Zero has stationed himself that he's close enough to possibly hit Daryn with the edge of the weapon as well, clearly attempting to kill two bird with one swing.

Zero strikes Daryn with his Swing attack.

Zero strikes Lumine with his Swing attack.

It still hurts. It hurts like hell.

Layer's been fighting for control of herself ever since the water struck her. She's still awake, and is going to do what she can... but with everything in her fighting for shutting down with only her willpower keeping her up, Layer moves once more... but she's bad... really bad. Her entire body trembles as weak hands push up once... before giving way as she drops again. But, then... she pushes up again.

Tears are streaming down her face. She sees Signas and knows that the only option here is to run... but in a high building, she has no option of escape. She cannot run physically, as the water damage is way too severe... she can only push herself to her limits as she struggles over to where Signas is, unsteady hands gripping him... as she staggers to a window.

And, with everything within her, she lifts his body... before hugging tight, and falling backward, unable to get out any other way, unable to stay her fall, unable to prevent the smashing into the ground that will occur and knock her out provided something breaks her fall...

She clings tight with the best hug she can manage around Signas to protect him from the impact... and descends.

Layer retreats from the area swiftly, leaving her open to pursuit or parting shots from Zero, Lumine, and Gemini Man.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer transmits coordinates. "Shutti... wn... ... preserve... mem... data..."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Layer then goes offline.

Search Man is shook by Mac landing. Looking up, down, and about, Search Man knows that he has to keep moving. Still going, Search Man tosses himself forward, attempting to vaul himself as Mac chases, forward and down and heading towards the only place he knows will be good.

The park. Moving across the ground quickly, he attempts to make himself on a home field advantage.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Mac transmits, "Crap."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Damn it all to hell."

Signas lands on the ground and lets the assault cannon spring back to its original position, the ice still grinding its internal gears. Staggering, trying to keep his balance, he looks up. Alerted by some sound. Or a sixth sense. Who knows. But he sees Dragontwo descending, and attempts to scramble out of the way.

No use. The blades slash into his chest, ripping and tearing at his life force, sucking away his reserves. And when it's all said and done, he collapses to the ground, clutching at his chest and trying to catch his breath. But it's simply not there any more. "Hgk--*"

Layer grabs his body and leaps off into parts unknown. And hopefully they can get recovered before the drone patrols make off with the both of them.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Mac transmits, "I got Search Man on the run, but I don't think I can stop him in one shot. What's the game plan."

The 'other' Dragonfly stabs Signas and as the blade dives deep into the Hunter's chest before being struck with the Tranq dart. It is an unexpected tactic as thoughts of getting back into Habeeb's for the equipment fade out with the rest of his motivation. He falls off of Signas, the blade retracting, easy pickings and giving the 'rescue squad' the opportunity it needs.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "If he runs, get out here and get Signas and Layer. She threw herself off the damn building."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Mac transmits, "Right."

Zero misses Gemini Man with his Swing attack.

"Oh, come on, he wasn't even fighting anymore," Dragonfly says. He'd get in the way of Zero striking Daryn, but the attack appears to go a little wild, which really catches him by surprise. He dives under another table reflexively.

From this table, he grabs a metal butter-knife. He looks at it appraisingly. It's quite dull, which ought to hurt a good deal.

He gets up again and slashes it at Zero. This slash goes wide, a fient. But what could he really do with such a silly weapon? "So, um," he casually asks, "Are you having a good time?"

He then drives the knife toward Zero's shoulder with a furious stab, pushing an arc of electricity through the blade as he drives it down to give it just a little extra power.

Gemini Man strikes Zero with his Shocking Shiv attack.

Gemini Man begins covering Daryn.

Fire Escapes are for GIRLS. Mac leaps onto the far building wall and simply slides his way down. Mac kicks off with both legs and lands on the ground, turning his head over to Search Man's escape. "Hey!" Mac holds his buster outward, his hand sucking away. "Get back here! I don't take kindly to Robot Masters who are also cowards who also shoot my friends!" Mac fires off a haphazard globule of purple energy as he tilts forward. Purple feet pick up trash and gravel as he runs towards the park. Gotta take him down quick.

Mac strikes Search Man with his Shot attack.

Daryn and Gemini Man didn't pick the fight, Zero. Unfortunately, this means that time may be wasted. Daryn, expecting that Zero and Gemini Man will just beat each other up without bothering him (this sort of thing is pretty common when elites run into each other), Zero surprises him by ripping into his side with his sword. "WAgghh!?" Daryn shouts, falling over onto his side, "What happened Argghh!!"

Daryn looks over to Zero and Lumine. He grunts and rolls back up to his feet. "Hunh. Hahn." He grips his bleeding wound and looks over to Zero.

Daryn reaches over behind his back and draws the ultimate sword of swords--the most powerful blade in existence: Excalibur! The Sword of Dagobert!

Where'd Daryn get that? His body is a blur of motion as he slashes repeatedly at Zero--3 times! Twice at his legs, another at his body--and then he sheathes the sword again, stepping back over to Gemini Man, nodding at him.

But something feels weird. Those slashes don't seem to have hurt as much as they should--on Protoman it completely annihilated him. No, in this case there may be a surprise.

Daryn misses Zero with his Excalipur attack.

Michael Eildath starts back down the building as 'Dragonfly' is stunned. He can't fight Dark Man /or/ Lumine on his own... he knows this pretty well. So his only choice here is to move while he's stunned, and hope that he can get to ground so he can rescue Layer and Signas before LumiDark figures out where the heck it is they fell.

Without anything to slow or stay the impending crash, Layer goes offline... for her own safety in regards to a last ditch effort.

Signas will be safe, at least, she thinks with a smile as her body goes offline, before she slams into the ground at an insane velocity. Systems within her body are crushed between Signas and the pavement with a sickening sound; it's a good thing her head was not in between.

Regardless, she'll be in the medbay for quite a damn while after this.

Layer strikes Layer with her Ram attack.

Layer falls to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage.

Daryn gets cleaved, but Gemini Man gets away. Dammit. Well, at least he doesn't feel bad for going all out on the Assassin class Gemini. Zero's Z-Sabre soon disappears into sub-space. Zero summons another weapon, but the opening that comes with that leaves him open for the butter knife feint. Growling as he gets a butter knife shoved in him, the Hunter figures it's time to get with the weapon that worked well on Serpent. As he pulls out the butter knife, Zero finds that he has a powerful weapon coming right for him!

Block block block! The trio of blows by Daryn is defended by a butter knife. That CAN'T be Excalibur. If it was a mere knife wouldn't be able to fend it off. Deciding the blade a mystery for another time, Zero discards the butter knife of stabbing in order to hold his better weapon in both hands. If this weapon tore Serpent up, clearly it should work on Gemini and Daryn... The Triple Rod. Raising it in front of him, Zero's twirls the weapon about in a circular motion. He tries to push on past Dragonfly and move toward Daryn, hoping to cut the pair of them to ribbons.

Gemini Man fails his attempt to cover Daryn.

Zero misses Gemini Man with his Triple Rod Spin attack.

Zero strikes Daryn with his Triple Rod Spin attack.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Zilch, might want to think about getting out of there. This is a bad place to be."

Signas' fall is cushioned by Layer's airbags.

Oh, if only she could comment. Or blush.

Dragontwo comes around after a while, it takes a moment to realize where he is and what's going on, and not seeing any opportunities of real value and being in relatively healthy condition decides to cut his losses and spirals into the sky.

Lumine retreats from the area swiftly, outdistancing all pursuit and parting shots.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Zero grrrs. "I'll see about backing off. Is everyone else out of the fight safely, or do I need to do some pick up on the way out?"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "I think other Dragonfly bugged out. I'll get Signas and Layer... I saw where they fell."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath snickers. "Bugged out."

The purple enery collides with Search Man, sending him towards the ground as he goes. Search Man collides with the dirt, actually cutting the grass momentarily. He's sending zipping forward, stopping only to look towards Mac as he gets back up, retreating towards a tree. Once there, he awaits for a moment.

"You think you can take us Hunter?" "You god another thing coming."

And just then, an single shot rips through the tree he hid behind, breaking forward before sending the bullets towards Mac's chest, only to explode inside.

Search Man strikes Mac with his Armor Piercing attack.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Mac transmits, "Ow."

Michael Eildath gets to the bottom of the building, having left rifle and ghillie suit at a drop point for later retrieval. He moves back out onto the streets, hunting down Layer and Signas, flipping Signas over and laying Layer atop him, then grabbing the big guy by the armpits and dragging him off to a waiting transport.

Michael Eildath retreats from the area swiftly, leaving him open to pursuit or parting shots from Slash Man, Search Man, Zero, Mac, Signas, Layer, and Gemini Man.

It is fortunate that there are no Future Papparazzi here.

Dragonfly deflects the shot aimed at himself, but doesn't manage to get it out of Daryn's way.

He turns his head and spits out of frustration when Zero carves in to Daryn. "You were out of your depth just fighting me," he says. "Don't flatter yourself by taking on more than you can handle." Giving up on his own blades for the short term, he turns his leg and kicks the knife-edge of it toward Zero's chest. It's not a power attack, but one he hopes will surprise him and trip him up.

Gemini Man strikes Zero with his Kick attack.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Hey, anybody there at home?"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Patch mews.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "..."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Anybody sapient?"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Andruw Nisse transmits, "If you need me to be back on base, I can cut what I'm doing here short."

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Patch, OFFENDED.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Cinnamon transmits, "What's up? I'm not there, but --"

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "No, it's okay. I just wanted someone to find out where Lifesaver's gotten off too. I need him to check out my ribs once I get Layer and Signas back."

Daryn snorts, as his strike fails to get proper purchase. "Not much used to the different weight." Daryn says. He wonders why Gemini Man is trying to protect /him/. It's not supposed to go that way, Daryn complains silently, it's supposed to be him who gets hurt--

But he nods, "Yeah, I hate to say it bro, but you're getting whupped. I can punch Gemini if you think it'll make it more fair, you know." He grits his teeth, stumbling back as the Triple Rod rips into his body, pushing him back--

But then Daryn spits for Zero's face. PTEW!

Daryn misses Zero with his Grasp attack.

That's one heavy bullet. Mac keeps running forward as he sees Search Man hide behind the tree. "I can do my best!" He shouts in return until the tree bursts open and the bullet comes flying out towards Mac. It slams right into his torso, three inches away from his power core to the right, and promptly explodes. A huge chunk of Mac's armor flies forward. Mac hits the ground shoulder first, rolling over and slamming against the ground. Ow.

Mac grabs the pavement behind his head and slowly rolls up onto his feet. Okay. So he has to play hard ball here. Melee combat, he's a gun guy, beat the hell out of him. Mac tries to thread the needle with an electroshot attack, firing right back through the hole in the tree.

Mac strikes Search Man with his Mac Stunblast attack.

Search Man is temporarily disoriented by Mac's Mac Stunblast attack.

Search Man momentarily readies himself to go. To move. To escape like shooting through the defensive barricade but it seems Mac is hurdling towards him the way he can. And Mac fires an electroshock through the tree itself.

And SearchMan falls, his body slamming into the ground, unmoving for the moment save for spasms.

Time, time, good. Mac has time. Mac runs towards the park and Search Man's body. He has to get Search man into a fist fight, that will put him off his game. Mac leaps over a hedge, then onto a stone barrier. Concentrate. Tree. Mac kicks off the wall and then blinks forward a good thirty feet, using the momentum from his jump to land himself into the tree, shaking a mecha squirrel out of it and a few robotic worms.

Mac takes another leap from the branches, trying to gauge the seconds until Search man gets up. No time to be fancy, Mac twists himself about as he sails through the air, bringing both legs up and then down in one big downward kick.

Mac strikes Search Man with his Hope For The People attack.

"I fight who I choose to, Gemini. Always have... Always will." The kick causes Zero to wince a bit in pain, but the blade doesn't seem to go in much further. Despite the blades stick in Zero, he seems more than willing to fight. Sadly, he doesn't have much time. Best to try and make this painful and quick. Using his Triple Rod's blade to block the spit, it swiftly evaporates for the swift moment Zero turns the blade to fire. It turns back though as Zero leaps back, holding his weapon in front of him.

The weapon begins to turns in his hands, the blade spinning in place to look more like a lance than a rod. It burns the Triple Rod, which was not meant to do such a technique. Zero's systems whine as he pushes almost all he has into the attack. The Triple Rod becomes a drill, ready to rend whatever it comes across. It's unstable in Zero's hand, lacking the strength to hold it properly due to the energy drain it puts on him. Still, a small chance of high pain is better than no chance at all.

"You always bitch I never try something new. Well, here is something just for you. For Dragonfly, I give you..." Zero thrusts out the weapon, which extends ten feet to try and tear in and through Gemini's gut.

"DRAGON SLAYER!"

Zero strikes Gemini Man with his Penultimate Technique attack.

The weapon drives through Dragonfly's stomach, and continues, exiting out near his spine and extending a good two feet beyond that.

Dragonfly makes a choking sound, then looks down, as the weapon has penetrated him quite cleanly.

He's frustrated by that, as it's enough of a wound to mean he'll be spending an evening in the cold, impersonal medbay, instead of bed where he's so much more warm and comfortable. He'll be told again not to get in to such silly fights where he could get himself hurt, no matter how confident he is likewise.

He glares at Zero, frustrated about that, more than about the pain it's currently causing.

He reaches out and grabs on to the shaft of the weapon, pulling himself up it rather than backward. With that one yank, he's close enough to tie one of his feet around Zero's, and pull himself up the shaft a bit further. It's a singular act of defiance, more common to someone who is already dying than someone who still has a good bit of fight left in him. But after that swift pull up the weapon, Dragonfly is close enough that he could nearly kiss his opponent. He looks him in the eye for a second, and what he may choose to do, he leaves unexpected.

After a tense beat, he brings up the electrified butter-knife that's still in his hand. He drives it in a short thrust for Zero's neck. "Bitch."

Gemini Man strikes Zero with his Critical Hit attack.

Zero is temporarily disoriented by Gemini Man's Critical Hit attack.

Even as Mac moves about, Search Man attempts to take the time to see what he's doing. He's not doing anything else, but until then, Mac slowly makes his way to his feet before Mac comes down directly towards Search Man's chest. Both feet drive the Robot Master into the ground, being knocked backwards with a terrible robotic grunt.

Rolling towards the side, Search Man just looks up towards Mac, even as he gets ready to strike again. Simply, Search Man just moves towards Mac, sending himself forward and off the ground, attempting to swat Mac with the cannon arm itself.

Search Man strikes Mac with his Cannon Arm Swat attack.

Mac doesn't stop with just the kick. As he rolls way from the attack, he twists his body back around, running to meet Search Man again. Mac is tenacious, unyielding. If anything, he really never stops. Even the cannon to the face doesn't terribly deter him.

The Mauve Marauder shifts his foot back, flexing his face away from the smash. Good. He is on the right path. That didn't hurt nearly as much as the bullet. Mac shifts back around, putting all the weight on his forward foot. His body comes around, face twisting, then shoulders, then hips, then finally his foot in a wide arc for Search Man's chest.

"You picked a crappy spot for a strategic battle!"

Mac strikes Search Man with his Uncrushable Hope attack.

Daryn braces for an assault--that doesn't come. He lowers his arms and sees that Zero, in fact, had chosen to stab through Gemini Man instead. "Oh geeze." Daryn says. Unlike Gemini Man, Daryn doesn't realize what this will do to Gemini Man's cuddle-life but this might be because Daryn's cuddlelife tends to result in about as many bruises as he gets in battle. He clucks his tongue, examins the electrified butter knife--he determines that this is a weapon that is expendable.

Daryn says, "You okay?" as he does the following:

>ITEM GET: ZERO >EQUIP ZERO >THROW >ZERO TARGET: SPACE

Daryn doubts he'll throw that far, but it is what he's aiming for all the same.

Daryn strikes Zero with his Exotic Weapon Proficiency - You attack.

Even as Mac comes up again, Search Man isn't ready for Mac to come back. Even as Mac's foot comes up into Search Man's chest, the Robot Master is sent backwards, rolling into a stop as he comes. But even as he does, Search Man isn't stupid. He's much moe than stupid, he's coniving. Born a soldier to be a soldier.

Even as Mac sends him back, crushing his armor, Search Man had dropped something. A mine, falling to the ground from where Mac had kicked him, kept beneath his feet as the Master tumbles to a stop. And for it to go off? Search Man just has to let it recognize.

"Have we, Mac?" "We're trained to fight from tree to tree." Search Man answers, making a run for another tree.

Search Man strikes Mac with his Land Mine attack.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Mac transmits, "I can't keep this up. Zero, get out of there."

Gettting stabbed with the knife causes Zero to get a blue screen of death for a few moments, his eyes glazing over as if dead. During this time, Dr. Light walks in front of the screen.

"Hey, Zero, right now, you're neural net received a shock that could have fried an important thing or two. While I'm running some important tests, your internal clock has notified me that Father's Day is coming up! Here are the following things that you can get me..."

As Zero is throw up in the air, Daryn surprisingly gets some air. Thankfully, the shout toward Light is in Zero's head, so no one hears his rage until he awakens in mid-flight. Double jumping and dashing away, Zero calls out toward Dragonfly and Daryn. "If we weren't behind enemy lines, I'd show you more powerful moves... But I've got places to be!"

Zero retreats from the area swiftly, leaving him open to pursuit or parting shots from Mac, Magic Man, and Gemini Man.

Dragonfly doesn't give chase when Zero leaves, looking down instead at the hole in his gut. He can practically see all the way through it. "Pfft. Coward," he says, though he realizes there really was no point at all to Zero sticking around. "You okay?" he asks Daryn, though he figures he is indeed fine, since he's still on his feet.

He hurts, but for the sake of appearances, stands tall, leaning on the table behind him only slightly. It seems like most of his enemies have now seen most of his tricks, so it's a little harder to be mysterious about his strengths, or his weaknesses.

Mac can't stop his attack. He hits the landmine with a rather impressive combustion. The shockwave blows a crater of dirt and grass from the ground, as well as sending Mac right up into the air. He lands a good few feet away, rolling over his side and settling a few feet away.

Mac winces, looking down at the heavily blasted legs, armor plating vaporized, servos badly damaged. He grunts, slowly shifting himself up onto his wounded leg. "I'm sure you are." Not much to come up with. Mac calls down the Hover Buggy and starts running for it, taking a leap for the edge of the seat.

"More like fight from flee to flee!"

Mac retreats from the area swiftly, leaving him open to pursuit or parting shots from Magic Man and Gemini Man.

[Radio: (C) A Chat] Dr. Cain sigh, "Midnight.."

[Radio: (C) A Chat] Midnight Epiphyllum whistles, innocently.

Even as Mac runs, Search Man doesn't chase. Only cowards escape without terrible odds. Even as Mac retrets, Search Man lowers his scope, turning about to slowly walk into the smoke that rises from the ground. Disappearing in it, he escapes completely through, unseen as it passes. HE IS A SNIPER. Among other things.

Search Man retreats from the area swiftly, leaving him open to pursuit or parting shots from Slash Man, Zero, Mac, Magic Man, and Gemini Man.

[Radio: (A) H Chat] Zero transmits, "Everyone get out okay?"

"Nice," Daryn says after a few moments, though he suddenly seems rather distracted and bothered by something. It wasn't a secret, but he hadn't expected him to /know/. They aren't supposed to care about--

"Glad you're getting medical attention, buddy." Daryn smiles, "I think I'll just live with it, myself. Better hurry before she changes her mind."

"She doesn't change her mind," says Dragonfly with a chuckle.

He frowns at Daryn... who looks bothered. "Well, you take care, okay?"

Awkward.