The Calm Before the Storm

[CC]

The forces of Casinopolis' best arrive on the scene, only to stop and gawk at what they see. A creature unlike anything they have ever seen before stands before them, turning to and fro as it tries to follow to mobians who seem to be fighting it, and against all odds, not dying immediately. The Captain of the police team stops his vehicle, staring for a few minutes before his partner elbows him sharply, jolting him back into his brain. He reaches down with his paw to the radio, picking it up and pressing down the button on the side, hesitating a moment before he reports back to the main precinct, "This is Captain Ferdin... we uhh... have a... uhh. We have a huge problem here. We are going to need special forces on this one... I don't think we have anything to be able to deal with this. And we have more of a problem, it seems as if there are two civilians who are currently involved with the giant...creature." He gets off the radio, only vaguely hearing the worried 10-4 that comes through from the other side as he turns towards his partner, yaers of training starting to show itself as he orders a perimeter set up around the immediate area and ambulances called for any who may be hurt.


In the meantime, CC slides underneath the hulking form of the arachnid, laying on her back as she finished letting the rage build up in the form of energy, tapping into the sources deep within that she had come into contact with through her training and subsequent fighting against the Demon Lord. Tayuu had done a fantastic job of distracting the creature, so well that CC had not even noticed that she had come close to being hit. With a primal growl building in the back of her throat, the feline crosses her arms in an 'x' pattern over her chest and then, before the spider can move, she releases the energy, drawing her paws down diagonally so that a huge burst of energy, in the shape of an x and with the marks of her claws, hurtles towards the beast.

Being that she is directly underneath, it hits straight on and the smell of something that is nastier than anything that the cat has ever smelled before hits her nose just as the creature screams in pain and without thinking it reacts, stamping its eight spindly legs down again, sending a giant tremor of energy throughout the area.

Pain rips through CC, getting the full brunt of the blow as debris flies out all around her, hitting her and causing her to bleed just as much as her insides feel like they are being torn apart by the energy flowing through her. She screams out in abject pain, a pitiful yowl that can barely be heard in between the following rubble and hissing of the now enraged and hurt creature.

[Tayuu]

Tayuu was instantly relieved that CC was able to deal the critical hit to the spider monster before his own fate was sealed. He was exultant and impressed with the teamwork that he and CC were achieving. He had only ever had one ‘partner’ in the past that had been even close to this kind of synchronisation. Tayuu was now so focused on the catgirl, he barely noticed the actions of the police force surrounding the area. In the span of just six seconds, Tayuu flinched from the bad smell drifting on the breeze from the spider’s wound and then fell into pure panic at what happened next.

There was a worried and audible; “Argh!” from the thief as he saw the spider violently react to the attack, trapping CC underneath. From the initial energy wave and the debris, the poor catgirl seemed to almost be ‘bounced’ out from under the spider after just a few moments. Its energy wave swept Tayuu off his feet and he instantly curled up into a defensive ball, paws over his sensitive ears as the screams and hissing washed over the immediate area.

The rumbling and tremors suddenly seemed louder and closer. Tayuu only just reacted quick enough to roll to the left as the spider stomped towards him. As he stood up and jumped back a few feet, he noticed the monster wasn’t really thinking about where it was going. It was just stomping around in circles, obviously going berserk. “CC!” called out Tayuu who was then cut short by having to dodge a flying rock that had been kicked up in the monster’s tantrum. Tayuu started to scan his surroundings, and began to form magick seals with his hands. He had one other special technique. He knew a way to stop this spider, he knew a way to stop anyone no matter how berserk they were at the time.

He was however somewhat less confident that’d work for very long on such a target. It wasn’t really the size of the beast he was worried about (although that was a factor), it was that this monster was unknown to the cat. He wasn’t sure how effect it would be, or if it would even work given the spider’s impressive energy level. Throughout his training, Tayuu had mastered activating this particular technique in record time, however he soon realized that there was no way he could get close enough to the rampaging target to make it effective. He was also in danger of getting clobbered by bits of pavement and such while trying to pull it off. He had to delay his plan.

Tayuu growled, stomped his foot in frustration, and then began to run. He ran towards where CC was on the ground, his new plan was to simply get her and himself away from here. He had no such luck however as before he could even reach for her hand, he was batted away by one of the spider’s legs. Flying through the air for a couple of seconds, Tayuu slammed back first against the side of a building and quickly dropped to the ground with a thud.

[CC]

The boys in blue are hurtled backwards by the energy shock, suffering quite a bit as the metal of their vehicles is crushed and crumbled by the psionic-type attack. It was nothing like anything they had ever dealt with before and their minds scrambled to grasp onto the reality of this so unrealistic situation. Both of the citizens seemed to be down for the count, one sliding underneath the creature just before a strange green glow and then the explosion. Yes, it must have been an explosion... and then the other who ran towards it screaming out something, but it could not be heard over the blasts and then he got knocked back by one of the long legs.

Captain Ferdin scrambles for his radio but there does not seem to be any transmission available and so he calls out for everyone who is still moving to back away and get help for those who need it, no one was to get close to the beast and they were to fire if it left the area.

The control room had lost contact with the Captain, but eyewitness reports were coming in faster than they could think and it all led to one thing... this was a job suited for those who dealt with strange circumstances and any paranormal activity. Dispatch is put to the task and in an office in Evergreen City, a phone rings.

____

CC groans and gets to her knees, using her hands to hold herself steady as she does her best to shake her head and remember where she is. Confused and aching all over her reflexes still manage to keep her from getting knocked to the ground once more, though this time it is by one of the spider's legs instead of a psionic wave. Using the back of her paw to wipe away the blood at the corner of her mouth her eyes finally focus and she can see the arachnid not too far from her, slowing down only minorly as it tries to focus on a target.

There seems to be something strange going on, but she cannot figure out what until she realizes that she is not hearing anything, her normally sensitive ears suddenly seemingly blocked. She cannot even hear her own mutterred expletives as the creature realizes that she is not dead yet and turns towards her once more, anger and madness in its eyes.

"Oh crap..." she says, unsure of whether or not it makes any sense. The feisty feline sets her stance once more and she glares at the creature, her aura starting to expand further around her until she is surrounded by an emerald green glow, "Now I'm pissed you great big ugly behemoth! Is that all you got?! Come on! Bring it!" She calls out, anger and rage building up inside of her even though her mind stays relatively calm and rational... though there is a tinge of something she had not felt in a long time, fear.. a fear that shows in her eyes and that the creature can sense as it steadies itself and goes in for another attack.

[Tayuu]

There was black… nothing but darkness. What was left of Tayuu’s active mind told him that he was more than likely unconscious. It had a bit of a giggle about that fact. There were a few sparks of what seemed like lightening. Some shapes began to form. A vague memory? Some familiar faces? Now something… bad… evil… Tayuu’s eyes suddenly flicked opened; “Monkey stole my money!”

There was a pause, he’d already forgotten what he had just said and wondered if he had a concussion due to the throbbing pain in his skull. That’s when the rest of his senses kicked in and told him that he was in pain all over. He twitched wildly for a second before sitting up and looking around, his hands on his head while he winced. “What… happened? I was having the strangest dream, there was this…” His eyes locked on the biggest spider he had ever seen and then he realised; “Oh… yeah…”

It all came flooding back as his eyes also caught a large flare of emerald green energy coming from one individual. “CC… I gotta help her…” Tayuu tried to get up but that made his spine hurt. He stopped for a moment and then carefully began to raise himself up from the ground using the wall next to him as support. He was in bad shape but he wasn’t out of the action at least. Maybe a fractured bone or two but nothing fatal or really concerning, he was lucky.

He slumped against the wall, wanting to recover at least a little before running back into the fray. This sudden power emanating from CC gave him more confidence in the lass being able to look after herself anyway. He guessed she’d done stuff like this before. Tayuu looked off to the sidelines, noticing the police running around with less concern than before. He then saw a familiar pile of rubble not too far away and wondered how Amon was doing.

(Shae Edit: Don't mind me.. just putting a little better structure into some of the posts in this topic.)

[Shae the Bat]

From the sanctity and solitude of the Chaos Realm, Shae watched on. Questions begining to burn in his mind. It perplexed him, a rift into the Zone of Silence can only be opened from the outside world. And since this is the case and this creature had emmerged from that Zone, it brought to mind..

"Who could have opened the rift?"

Shae pondered this deeply as he watched as more of the Casinopolis S.W.A.T. and Police members arrived on the scene and took positions. Curiouser and curiouser, he watched seeing Ci Ci and the unknown cat battle.. but if Ci Ci was there.. where was Amon?, and if Amo nwas there why was he not helping? With every question, the urge to intervene grew stronger. But, as Magistrate of the Chaos Realm, he could not do so without facing some rather large consequences. So he stood back and continued to watch..and wait..

[Stealth Greyblade]

Evergreen City. EDF Military Base Alpha, Hunter Corps Special Forces Compound. An alarm suddenly rang out through the compund as Stealth stepped out of the shower dripping wet. "Hmph.. figures.. do they realize how long it takes to dry out my tail?" He sighed as he did a quick dry job and pulled on a t-shirt and jeans before racing out to the confrence room. The alarm was flashing in a red light. Stealth silently slipped into his seat with the rest of his unit as the Hunter Corps commander walked in, a stately middle aged human with salt and pepper hair and beard.

LTC. Excaliber frowned at the assembled Delta Team Hunters and simply turned on the montior, a series of gasps could be heard from the Hunters Seeing a crater of a warzone, an area completely wiped out and the picture.. a satalite image of a giant creature.. an arachnid. As well as a read out on powerful energy signatures.

"13:00h this afternoon a creature from the Zone of Silence was summoned into the city of Casinopolis. It seems it began to attack citizens and damage property. The Casinopolis police force are powerless to stop it and have called us in for support. Currently though, the only thing to have stalled this creature are three figures that Casinopolis police think might be responsible for the creature in the first place. Their fighting with it has caused casulaties and more damage. So, as well as stopping the creature, you Hunter Team Delta have been tasked in aprehending these individuals. As the best of the best, Delta Team... I have full faith in you. POC for this mission will be SSG Greyblade.. You are dismissed. Godspeed and good luck noble fighters. May you handle this as swiftly as you boys did during the Templar invasions. After taking care of those psychics I'm sure you can stop this creature and aprehend the culprits." The commander said.

And with that, Stealth and the other Hunters left. Quickly they ran to the armory and after a few words and iuntructions from Stealth, they suited up in their assualt class power armor and grabbed their Paladin rifles. Other weaponry was already loaded on their Valkrye transport. Soon the elegant yet deadly craft rose in the air with its load of Hunter and zoomed off in the direction of Casinopolis at top speed.

[Psychosis]

It was building, a burning rage. A mass of violent and chaotic thought. The arachnid was reaching its most dangerous state and Amon knew this. If he didn't recover soon, it would be too late and he would lose everything he'd faught so hard for in the days after Syntaru's fall. The visions of his own demise were furthest from his mind, all he could concentrate on was the diminishing strength and energy of Tayuu, his young pupil and his dearest love, Ci Ci. The two felines doing the best they could to fend off the massive beast. Local authorities doing what they could to evactuate the area and tend to the wounded civilians.

All of Amon's worst fears were coming to pass and he could do nothing but lay there gathering the needed psionic energy to restore his powers. Amon was getting more desperate by the second, and then it hit him.. when seeking to gather energy.. find the strongest source around. It was risky, but Amon concentrated on the spider itself, using every ounce of restraint and nobility in his body to resist the dark impulses from the energy he had begun to leech. But it was working, his energy was restoring faster and faster, but for as much as he leeched, the beast replenished what was being taken just as quickly. Then there was a spark in Amon's mind.. with the brilliant flash in the subconcious region of his brain, he knew his powers had been fully restored and it was time to turn this losing battle around.

He opened his eyes underneath the heavy brick and steel, the sounds of the battlezone around him. He clenched both of his fists and let out an attention grabbing scream. An immense blue light encompassed the immediate area and a large burst of psionic energy radiated out. The rubble that had been pinning the Templar down had now been completely evaporated and all that remained was a 6 foot in diameter scorch mark where the rubble had been. With Amon standing clear in the center of it, his head down and arms crossed over his chest. A cold wind blew through the section of street where the battle had been taking place.

Dust and debris scattering about around the lone hedgehog, it was like something out of the action films Amon had grown fond of in the city's theatres. But this was no film, this was reality, and it was time to deliver a hefty amount of retaliation against this beast. Knowing the creature's weakness now, Amon went straight into action. A myriad of clone Amon's ran out, surrounding the arachnid whilst the real Amon collected Ci Ci and Tayuu bringing them aside. He quickly and bluntly laid out his plan.

"Don't argue, double think or even remotely doubt what I am about to tell you, just do it and do it quickly. Tayuu, move to the left side of the creature and wait for my signal, Ci Ci you do the same on the right.. when I give the signal I want you both to concentrate all your energy on the two back legs of the beast. Hold nothing back, my clones will keep the beast distracted. With that amount of energy being focused on one particular area of his body, his natural defenses will divert to those places leaving the rest of his body open to attack. That's where I come in, once I sense that his defenses have weakened enough I'll deliver the final burst of energy straight into the belly of the beast.. understood? Perfect now get it done.."

[CC]

(ooc- Sy-yth... where are you?)

One minute, the spritely cat was gathering energy and facing off with the beast, the next there were multiple Amon's surrounding it - his cloning technique - and she was whisked away by the true flesh and blood love of her life. Relief showed through CC's energy-filled eyes, behind the rage and anger that she had slowly been building up through the battle with the large spidery creature. It was not erlief over being saved, for she would have fought until she died in order to save the city and the innocents, that was never in question. More, it was relief over knowing that Amon was indeed alright and ready for battle, a fierce look within his normally calm and passive eyes.

The feline listens carefully to the Psionic hedgehog, his plan was good but it would take all of them hitting the beast with as much energy as possible to pull it off, it was already hurt, but it was also strong and angry, the adrenalin alone could keep the creature going for longer than the three could last, even at their fighting best.

She nods once to show that she completely understands his orders and does not say a single word before running off to the right of the distracted creature, continuing to take in energy as she makes her way to the appointed place where she knows she will have a good shot once the multiple Amon's are dissipated.

____________

Silently, Kitsa roots for the spider creature to win, watching with immense glee as the two fighters get weaker and weaker... her grin fades though when the Psionic blasts out spectacularly from the rubble and pulls the two aside. She stays quiet and watches with great anticipation of what is to happen next, hoping for more carnage before she continues on her trek to find more of the Freedom Fighters.

[Tayuu]

Tayuu was impressed with Amon’s return and his recovery of both cats, as it was likely they were going to be in serious trouble. Safely out the way as the Amon clone’s distracted the dark arachnid, Tayuu listened closely to his plan, and although not voicing his concern, he agreed quickly with a nod.
Already feeling better despite his aches and pains, the thief started to run off the moment CC set her course. Rather than heading directly to the right, he moved in a zig-zag pattern, picking up his fallen kunai that were scattered here and there.
Tayuu panicked slightly in his mind as he scrambled to pick up as many as he could in the quickest time possible; ‘He knows I can’t throw shiny green energy blasts like CC, what is he expecting me to do? Will I be enough?’
His speed picked up as he closed into his position, a paw held down to effortlessly scoop up yet another kunai as he ran past. Having used such throwing weapons most of his life, he was used to retrieving them quickly when safe to do so. He had no direct attacking techniques, so these weapons were the best he could do.
Now in position, Tayuu waited for Amon’s signal, keeping note of CC but focusing on the spider’s back leg that was to be targeted.

[Lucian]

OOC: 38 hours a week at one job a 25 at another plus being the DM of a DnD campaign every Thursday. Oh, and for some reason in my last post it cut off about a paragraph, but I'll roll with it from there so you dun have to go back and change it again.

Perhaps it was the forced return to a mortality like state. Or it was the frustration that in being the left hand of the Goddess and still bearing witness to her destruction that did it. But Paladin Twilight lost his temper, and creatures infused with holy power do some mighty destructive things when that happens.

A dark blue blur of wanton striking arms and legs tore at the armor, limbs, anything they could land a hit on. It was miraculous, even with longer weapons the enthralled vanguard ignored the knicks, pokes, and some really nasty cuts as he rent his way through the advancing host of skeletal warriors. Tearing skulls from boney shoulders just to crush it beneath his foot a moment later before tearing the spine out of another he had become a beast of pure undeniable rage.

And some where deep inside he hated himself for it. Not because he had lost control, because he was very well aware of his actions, long since accustomed to working in such a manner. No, he was ashamed because he was enjoying the fruits of battle. So many years of long wars and tireless service, t'would seem the paragon of light had developed more than a begrudging respect for mortal combat. Not long after the last bone fell clattering Twilight took deep gasping breath, blood trickling from a thousand places, all of them minor but if they hurt he paid them no heed. Snatching up his weaponed he gave a brief look of apology to his pirate companion.

"Forgive me lass, but I'm not in the best of moods with my father toying with the very base of my being. Next stop, the top of Thanatos Tower."

[CC]

The piratey lass drops the weapon that she had been using to the ground, where it lays amongst the rest of the carnage... well, dust. She grins, all the concern from before wiped from her face, a moment of surprise over the blast of anger from the normally cool-headed deathog that she was used to being around. He had destroyed the remaining gaurds with nary a thought and without even breaking a sweat, they were not too difficuot to dispose of to be certain, but such frenzy added to such power made even the normally boisterous woman a bit more hesitant and wary of her companion.

But it did not show, if but for a moment within her ocean-blue eyes as she bows at the waist and flourishes her arm out, pointing in the direction that they are next to go, her voice silkily purring the next words, "But of course, no time for such petty trifles and disturbances, after ye good sir!" She looks at him, staring directly into his eyes, her expression lighthearted and playful even though her firmly set lips shows that she fully understands the seriousness of the situation.

[Psychosis]

"Tayuu, Ci Ci, get to it.."

Once his friends began attacking the areas chosen, the myriad of clones were doing their job. The beast was perfectly distracted by the swarm of Amons around him. And as expected, even with his mind focused on dispursing the fake attackers, his natural defenses concentrated energy to the areas being attacked by Tayuu and Ci Ci. Every time it looked as though the spider was going to turn and attack one of the two felines, a cloned Amon would flash a bright energy burst in it's eyes and rile it up some more. Time however, was limited.

Amon was picking up several unfriendly lifesigns coming their way. He couldn't tell exactly who or what they were, he could only tell that their intentions were to harm he and his friends. Amon waited only a few moments longer, the spider's defenses were being drained quickly from the attacks. He waitied for the perfect moment to slip by unnoticed as two of his clones double dropkicked the spider's head, dealing no physical damage of course, but the spider whinced all the same. Amon made a running dash, slid along his back, charged up a powerful ball of psionic energy and aimed his hand upward at the underbelly of the spider.

"Your play time is over Ceramausk, you've overstayed your welcome. It's time to vanquish you from this world and plunge you into the Void!"

He signaled for Tayuu and Ci Ci to back away and clear the area. The Amon clones started to disappear and break away. The spider's defenses were still concentrated on the areas that had been attacked, leaving his weakpoint open. And without any hesitation, Amon recoiled his hand and released the massive burst of energy. The beam pierced through the spider like a column of lightning. Its body began to split and crack, its blood dripping out, Amon quickly teleported out of harm's way, the beasts blood was as deadly as acid. Seering into the asphalt below creating mounds of black smoke as it melted. The beast was finished. They had won.. but just as Amon moved over to congratulate his friends.. something struck his attention.

A shuttlecraft had arrived just inside the area the three had been fighting the immense creature. The hostile intentions Amon had picked up on were strongest from this craft. It seemed that their troubles were not over, but were only just beginning.

(OOC: There's your opening Stealth. Oh, and sorry if I didn't give you the chance to fight it out with the Spider, Ash and Tayuu, but I was under orders to get this wrapped up a.s.a.p.)

[CC]

(ooc- Don't worry about it Psy, I was kind of wanting to get it over with myself... get Stealth involved and all that goodness!)

CC takes a deep breath and and looks around, breathing heavily and mightily batterred and bruised. She wipes at her bouth, not surprised to see blood on the back of her paw, though it is barely noticeable upon her black fur, it just looks as if she is a bit damp. She fights the urge to drop to one knee, fully and utterly exhausted, and instead skirts around the rubble until she is once more at Amon's side. She puts one paw onto his own as she searches around for a sign of the other feline, Tayuu, and when she notices him she smiles and nods, "He is a good lad and has a bit of potential. I kind of feel like I have seen him before but I can't really remember when..."

Distracted by noise, she looks up at the incoming transport, squinting slightly as the sun glares off of the shining metal upon it, "Who is..." Just then the Delta Force Logo shows up on the side of the transport and CC swears under her breath. "I should have guessed that they would have been called. Well, things should be okay! The best is destroyed and well... the place isn't too destroyed!" Even though the cat sounds chipper though, her words and the worry in her eyes show that she is more concerned that she is letting on and it does not even take a psychic to tell that much. She looks at Amon and shrugs, "What do you think? Should we skedaddle and see how far we can get or do we stick around to see what they have to say? We did just save everyone here, but most law enforcement type people have never been all that keen on listening at the best of times and these guys are no better..."

The urge to run is strong, old habits dying hard, but her feet stay firmly planted until she hears what Amon has to suggest, she has a feeling she already knows the answer - stay and talk - but he had surprised her in the past and he may surprise her now. But she knew as well that they would merely see them as definate culprits if they ran...and CC was not entirely sure if she wanted to have to stay on the go once more. "Guess it is a bit late for that..." she mutters to herself as she keeps a wary eye on the descending transport.