Apr 05 109 PA - Bella blows her top off

From Chronicles

An early April morning or a late April night? Could go either way at this point. We start in the west dregs just south of the city's industrial area and east of the refugee camp. Radio chatter suggests that there will be another better organized attempt to collect on refugees tonight. The refugees are waiting for such a maneuver with one patrol outside the wall to the east and another on top of it to the north. A turret station sits ready with a spotlight on top of one of the compound's buildings, 35 feet up.

Tek makes his way back to the Dregs and walks towards the refugee camp once again. When asked he says he is here to talk to Marcus.

Late night. Really early morning. All the same fer Bella. Course the Dregs ain't quite the same right now though. Not 'round here. When she comes up from the south she's a li'l more ready fer it too. Ain't got no coat. Justa coupla shiny belts hangin on her hips 'n some shiny bracelets. And a gun. But not just any gun. It's her flamey shooter. Easier ta roast the next facker that looks at 'er funny that way. Still wearin the same shirt. The one't's gotta li'l hole in it showin a li'l bitta chest. Least it proves she's got some?

The gate guard looks at Tek. "Who's that?" He asks, clearly not knowing all the 10,000 refugees by name.. As this transpires things are mostly quiet in the early hours. Though everyone manages to notice the ruble of a vehicle blitzing by to the northeast near the border.

Tek has had his visor up on his Cyclops armor so the guard could see his face, "I am looking to talk to the guy in charge. I had offered my services a little bit back. Name's Tek by the way."

Bella just keeps walkin north. She eyes the people patrollin not too far 'way. But she ain't walkin at 'em. Or pointin her flamey shooter at anybody. Maybe she's just waitin ta see if the refugee people're still all uppity fer startin shit.

"This early in the morning? It's a bit late. What do you want to talk to Marcel about that can't wait until the sun is up?" The guard asks, finding it rather odd to a request an audience at 1 am. Meanwhile to the northeast more vehicles drive around.

Tek shrugs, "You know better than I. If you think he would not like my assistance that is your call, but the last time I talked with him he had said he was interested in my help. If you want me to leave then I will do just that. What did you say your name was again?" His facial expression looks annoyed as he explains things to the guard for the second time.

Eyein the guards walkin by gets a li'l break. So Bella can look over at alla vehicles movin round up north 'n east. She smirks. Ain't lotsa people just go drivin round the Dregs. She knows it. Looks back atta guards 'long the east wall. Grins at 'em. "Havin fun yet?"

"If we knew we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Marcel would have told us if he was expecting to see someone this late. What are you going to be helping with. Not trying to turn you away, but I ain’t waking Marcel on some merc's whim alone." The guard explains to Tek with a patient shrug.

Over on the east side the guards definitely take note of Bella's question with some gestures and radio calls. They make no move on her yet, but the spotlight of the turret starts shining to get some light on her. At the border maybe four cars have assembled.

Tek smiles and says, "I have many ways to help though repairing things even during combat situations is normally what people like about my skills. I have brought along my own tools and equipment. I heard y’all saw some combat yesterday and decided to take Marcel up on his offer. If you think waiting until the 'collector's' come back and it is a more reasonable hour for me to begin assisting with repairs, that is fine with me." Looking around now Tek starts to move like he is thinking about leaving, though he does not as of yet walk away.

Bella waves back. Then looks back up ahead. Shakes her head a li'l. Smirks lots. Pricks. They got who knows what gatherin up over there. 'N they're shinin lights on her. Ok. Maybe they're just really fackin stupid.

The guard shrugs. "Well depends on if you are helping defend or repair. Defending you don’t need to see Marcel. Just hang out and try to stop anyone who tries to start something. We'll gladly pay you for your efforts and expenses. If you just want to help repair then you should come during the day when all the other tradesmen will be around to help as well. Way easier and lots more resources. Maybe get the south turret put back together in time for tomorrow." He explains to Tek as he pulls away, letting make up his own mind.

To the northeast a single car accelerates to make its way towards the north wall of the camp. As it closes it's clearly an armed and armored model. The turret is still looking for Bella, oblivious.

Tek smiles, "No time like the present. Show me to the south turret. Marcel already told me he would pay me for my efforts so whether you tell him now or not is of no mind to me. I can stand with my rifle and shoot at stuff but to be honest it would be a waste of my true talent." Turning back now that it seems he might actually get to start fixing something Tek seems more receptive to the guard who he was starting to think would not accept his help.

Bella watches the spot of light flop around onna ground. Yep. They're fackin stupid. Maybe she's feelin nice. Cause she starts pointin a pointy finger over atta car racin fer the wall. Maybe if the blind guy usin the light ever finds her he can take the hint.

The guard nods and starts leading Tek to the south turret, which will take a few minutes. Meanwhile the north turret will continue looking for Bella until the rapidly approaching car blitzes the north wall. Alarm spreads as the machine barrels along the hawthorn bushes beside the wall while strafing fire from its turret. Some fire gets returned as well before the vehicle turns sharply to take momentary shelter north of the border.

Tek follows along only giving a glance over his shoulder as the gunfire erupts. The visor to his armor gets closed on the walk over and Tek remains silent for now.

Bella tried. Even if nobody saw. Lead a horse ta water 'n hold his head under 'till he drowns 'n all that. "Dumbshits." She's gotta laugh. "Whatcha get fer starin atta girl I guess." Course maybe there's some good in it. Can still make glue outta the horse right?

The offending car doesn’t linger long north of the border. Calls are already probably being made to the KDPD. It accelerates back into the bramble for another pass and continues back to the east where more vehicles wait.

After being led over to the south turret Tek moves around the guard and gets right down to business removing the forms so he can begin to remount both the light and rifle. He still does not say anything to the guard as now his attention has shifted to the work at hand.

And the turret finally gets its light shining on Bella, confirming her as the menace from yesterday. Will only take a second to put a stencil in for her..

Why he has been delayed is known only to Pavel, but the fact of the matter is that he arrives on scene running in from Steel Street. He heads toward the northwest gate, waving a hand in friendly greeting, with his large mallet in his right hand and trailing at his side. In an attempt to communicate as well as he can with the refugees, he expresses in American, Euro and Russian, "Hello, I'm here to help you, what's going on?"

Oh. Sure. NOW the light finds her. She ain't fergot about what they were tryin ta do last night neither. "Fack. Assholes!" They ain't gonna hear her onna tower. But she yells at 'em anyways. Then she's runnin too. North. And at the wall. Maybe they can't shine the thing down over it that close.

It'll take just a few minutes for Tek to take the forms down, allowing the guards to update Pavel on the blitz from the car earlier. Not much damage is taken by the guards or the car in that. Also gives Bella time to close in on the shadow of the wall, and the east guards time to chase after her. In the northeast corner the cars seem to wait for something.

Tek is still up in the south turret working on the mounts for both the light and a new turret mount for the rifle that is up there. He does keep looking around as he is working though most of his concentration is on the work. His mechanical arm on his armor is extended as he works and the built in welding torch on his other arm comes in handy as he works.

Bella gets to the wall. Looks up. Doublechecks. Now she can look at the guys by the wall comin at her. And go back ta bein pissed off. "What the fack's wrong with ya stupid people?!" Sides them bein stupid of course.

Well you don’t throw people off a wall, shoot others, and get a turret blown up without making a few friends. Luckily they have to get pretty close to have anything that will work against Bella. A hundred feet to be exact, question is if Bella will run or fight. Inside Pavel gets escorted up to the north turret if he feels he can help more from up there while Tek gets the rifle mounted in the south. And in the northeast all four cars look ready to truly begin with another run.

Tek is super fast with what work he does do and has the light up and mounted already and the gun turret is just getting finished up. After getting everything secured he begins the tedious process of aligning and calibrating the sights on the newly mounted rifle.

Perhaps not knowing how useful even his bow might be against vehicles, Pavel does his best to get to the edge of the wall, where he might see whatever the turret's light was pointing at. As he moves, a flare arrow is knocked and launched into the sky, trying to light as much of the battlefield as possible in its spherical glow. That's some kind of help, 'better than nothing' might be all that he can think as looks for the edge.

Ok. Bella used up all her nice. First their mud thing smacker her fer no reason. Then they were gonna shine stuff on her. Then they DID shine shit 'round 'er. 'N she didn't even kill nobody. Maybe time ta fix that. She points her flamey shooter atta ones comin up on her. Starts hittin the shoot button. "Fack off!"

Ok, one refugee is on fire, He can put it out after the threat is quelled. Five of the ten guards retaliate by throwing water grenades back at Bella. Guess they though she might come back tonight. As things get heavy below Tek has the turret repaired just in time. All four of the cars are now running to make their assault on the north corner. The north turret turns its attention from the hidden Bella to them since the vampire is in the shadow of the wall.

Tek looks around as he finishes up the work. Seeing no one around he kicks on his radio and loud speaker at the same time and says, "Please have a weapon operator report to the south tower," as he grabs ahold of the rifle and opens up on the lead vehicle with a fairly long burst.

As the spotlight is no longer able to illuminate what it was going for, Pavel moves as high as he can to get a good shot at the cars illuminated by his flare. << The guards below will have to deal with themselves, >> he mutters in Russian. He pulls two high explosive arrows, knocking one and preparing to fire when the first vehicle comes within range.

Bella didn't come here ta getta bath. Course she dunno what they were throwin at her. S'why she ducked 'em. Mosta 'em. One sprays her. Messes up her hair. Melts li'l chunks outta her arm. Puts a coupla holes in her face. Pisses her off too. "That all ya got?!"

No they have lots more glass jars full of water. Not like they cost anything. Five more are thrown at the defiant vampire as the cars close on the compound and open up with fire in response to Tek's scathing blast at one of them. The north turret also takes a shot at the pesky vehicles.

Tek seems to anger when the blasts get close to him and opens up with another burst at the same vehicle. He says into his radio and loud speaker, "Is someone coming up here or what?"

Even at his strength and obviously strange bow, Pavel still doesn't have a shot. He momentarily releases tension on the string, grabs the arrow that he'd placed on the ground, and moves closer to the northeastern corner, trying to get as much of the battlefield in his view as possible.

Bella ducks a couple. Gets hit by way more. There went her nice hair. And mosta her face. Bra's sittin funny too. Damnit. Sure it all grows back. But still hurts like hell. Probably why she's screamin 'n smokin. She smacks a button on her shiny belt. Maybe it'll help. Maybe not.

What's the button do? The refugee guards are too busy pelting Bella with jars to know. Tek seems to be doing a great job at the turret, though his call does get some attention to get someone up there in a minute or two as the cars close closer still. Two more shots at each turret again.

Tek dives as a couple rounds come flying in at him. He manages to get out of the way of one of them but the second nails his armor. He then turns and starts to make his way back to the gun turret.

With the cars coming on unfortunately slow, Pavel has time to look up and see the shots impact the compound. Maybe even Tek, if the lighting is right. For now, he prepares more high explosive arrows and fades into shadow, a better place to release a silent weapon when the range is right.

Bella smirks. Sorta. Most of her lips're melted off. But they're growin back. Just shows more fang that way. No duckin this time neither. She just lets the jars splatter when they hit the field 'round her. "My turn 'gain." They got water. She's got fire. She goes fer a guy in front with extra fire this time. Holds the button on extra tasty crispy.

The cars are almost to the north wall now, still shooting turrets. And now that they're so close windows roll down to let even more guns poke out to try for lucky shots. Of course the refugees on the wall can fire back now too. The refugees with Bella switch to rifles efficiently as their grenades stop working. In the return fire from the refugees the most damaged car becomes too damaged to continue and slows to an undramatic stop in the dirt. The other three continue, one taking damage to soon join the other..

Tek takes another hit as he makes it back to the gun turret. He starts to unload on the car that has been shooting at him unleashing a long burst, "Take that you bast..." his voice is swallowed as the heavy laser gun whirrs to life.

From within shadows cast by roof equipment, Pavel sets a series of high explosive arrows before him for rapid-fire. As one vehicle slides to a comedic and anticlimactic halt, he chooses its turret as a useful target. Still functioning, but hoping that stationary presents a better target. "Pogruzheniya, kak sokol," he says under his breath as if even whispering would help conceal him from potential wrath. An arrow is knocked, the string pulled and then two fingers slide away, allowing the bow to release its deadly dart.

Bella can play this game too. She pokes the button on her belt again. Turns off the field. Clothes're way cheaper ta get new ones. Then she's back to trying fer her own recipe fer BBQ'd human. Crispy grilled inna spicy melty armor sauce.

Yeah that game gets old quick. Half the refugees against Bella keep their rifles ready, the other half grab grenades again.. Meanwhile the cars keep attacking, focusing on refugees now that the turrets gone or out of their line. Two refugees fall from shots from the turrets and windows of the attacking cars but the rest bring a second car to a halt.

Tek turns his fire to the crippled vehicle as it is the only one in his range of fire at the moment and opens up on it with everything the heavy weapon he is manning has.

Pavel is clearly less-than-impressed by the high explosive arrow that he paid for. He looks at the others that had been lain out, frowning. When a burst of laser fire passes by, shredding the vehicle that had been his target, he can only watch for a moment. A smoke arrow is removed from his quiver and knocked. He targets the five slightly-battered mercenaries, hoping to obscure their vision and slow them down. "Protiv odin pyat spravedlivo!" The bow string is released.

Fack it. These guys're just pissin 'er off. Bella drops her flamey shooter. Since it ain't workin with 'er worth a shit anyways. She jabs her belt button 'gain. 'N starts runnin atta bunchin guys that like throwin stuff.

The vampire is suicidal? The refugees can handle that. Rifles fire on full, followed by more jars of water.. Meanwhile the first set of crashed mercs spend a moment getting clear of smoke, the second set keep firing at refugees as the cars continue. Two more refugees fall to the efforts of the mercenaries via turret and rifle.

Tek moves the laser rifle back into an alignment with the guys running away from the car having unleashed a furious burst a second ago.

Pavel is proving himself to be a much better smith than he is a soldier. But he can't help but try to help. Another arrow tipped with a high explosive shaped charge is knocked, and once more, the string pulled. He takes his time to sight along shaft properly, aiming for one of the men behind the oncoming turrets rather than the turret itself. *Bop* goes the string as it is released.

Bella don't stop runnin fer nothin. Even the duckin 'n hoppin. Ok. The li'l dive atta end ain't really runnin. But it gets 'er there. She don't land so hot though. Hits the ground. Rolls a li'l. But ain't like it hurts none. She don't even get back up alla way. Just sits up atta buncha feet. So she can look up't the big bad buncha stupid facks that the feet're stuck too. 'N grin. "Bye fackheads." She slaps her arms tagether just like she's clappin. Big loud clap to. Cause she explodes. Ever seen what a coupla poundsa C6 'n a pounda li'l sharp scrap armor bits can do? Ya did now.

Bella blowin up peppers ev'rythin with a buncha li'l holes. The fackheads. The wall. Even the flamey shooter bottles she's got. Ones that have a buncha warning stuff about not droppin on 'em. That she can't read. Alla plasma flamey stuff don't like that. So they blow up too. Way bigger 'n the first boom. People get crispy. Then evaporate. The wall gets a big ass hole in it. 'N now ever'ythin's on fire. Bella's kinda gonna need some new clothes too. When she's done bein on fire.

So far things are going pretty good for the bad guys. If kamikaze runs are a good thing. Two of the four cars have been shot full of holes. The mercs riding in them all have some damage as well. But two more are still running and there are only 6 refugee guards left on this shift. The explosion on the east side took out 10 guards and 30 feet of wall. That turned some heads. Like kicking an anthill the refugee compound is getting much more lively now. There is a distinct rumbling heading for the east wall.

After hearing the massive explosion Tek turns to look but keeps his sighting on who he was shooting at. But instead of pulling the trigger he closes his eyes and concentrates for a moment.

The enormous explosion grabs Pavel's attention, as it sounds far worse than anything the vehicles are dealing out. He grabs his arrows and looks to see what has happened. After shuffling through both his mind and his quiver, trying to decide what is being fought - and mumbling these thoughts aloud as he does it - he finally draws one of the wooden arrows, knocks it and fires at the burning creature. A burning creature that remains ready to fight can only mean one thing.

Maybe lotsa bodies lyin round after that. Just not lots in one piece. Maybe just one. Bella stands back up. She ain't so bad. Nekkid. On fire. But not so bad. "Ain't so fackin happy now is ya?" Who's she talkin to? Probably the guys that ain't there no more.

Two cars have just stopped to gun down the rest of the refugees, two crashed earlier. Ample targets for everyone really, all shooting back at the clearest threat right now, refugees. They take down two more. Clearest threat to their side anyway. They didn’t blow up the east side but they sure don’t mind the diversion. In answer to that a 30 foot tall creature of stone is bounding toward the burning Bella, 4 soldiers following in its wake. Big thing for big guns.

Tek keeps his aim where it has been and lets out another five round burst at the guys that came from the vehicle he just blew up.

Who can blame Pavel, he's never fought plasma before. So goes one wooden arrow. Still, he has a quick mind, and immediately decides on two courses of action, the first, calling as loudly as he can in three languages that there is a vampire trying to enter the compound. Second, knocking another smoke arrow and launching it toward the band of five dismounted but otherwise unharmed mercenaries north of his position. An arrant shot goes unnoticed.

Bella hears the rumblin noises. Looks. Oh great. It's the big giant rock chucker again. Hey Chuck. Then she hears Pavel yellin. Turns ta yell back. "No I ain't! Ya big talkin funny shit!" All she did was stand up. "Ok. Now I am!" Cause she's walkin towards the yellin.

What a mess, two more refugees are quickly shot down by the remaining two cars. Pavel's smoke has forced them to abandon the two crashed ones but they still have guns to shoot. And after that last shot he's merited some attention. The five mercs from the first crash all go about discouraging future smoke shots. Meanwhile the colossus is almost at Bella as she makes her way into the compound, covering about a hundred feet. Two hundred left between her and the building, then 35 up.

Tek takes aim at one of the group and unleashing a five round burst at him before panning over and unleashing a second five-round burst on a second of the same group. "Take some of that... and that!"

Pavel is large, but he's nimble, and manages to dive out of the way of two energy bolts that come lancing up toward his position. He lands on his side, trying to cover out of sight for a moment, and only then does he notice the two little scorch marks on his armor. They're shrugged off, his mind more on the fight right now - and staying unseen and quiet.

Bella's got one big guy she's goin for. 'N another one goin fer her. "Ya the one't got 'em shootin at me 'n shit?!" Maybe they weren't just stupid. Maybe sombody's tryin ta jab her inna back. She keeps on goin. Runnin now. On fire.

The last 2 refugee guards go down just as ten more make it up the wall at the west side. All of them carrying a heavy portable turret setup. It will take them a moment, but might just be the thing to turn this around. Over beside the building Bella's pursuit of Pavel will be interrupted as the colossus conjures a literal tree trunk and steps in her path. No introductions, batter up. The mercs that shot at Pavel lose their target, so they turn to Tek who's shooting from the south turret. A much harder shot for them.

Tek takes a hit even though he tried desperately to get out of the way. One did miss him but the second didn't, "Dang it, you scratched my new armor you will pay for that one." Lining up the shot for who he thinks connected the last time Tek releases another five round burst.

Pavel sticks his head up just high enough to take a look around, then for whatever reason, chooses to look for a way down from the roof. He keeps the bow in his hand for now, but otherwise is just looking to descend and not get shot at. He finds a rapid way down - he jumps.

Bella was runnin. Then she's homerunnin. She's fulla all kindsa s'prises. Ain't lotsa people't seen a nekkid flamin girl go flyin. Inta more fire. Even worse landin 'n her one before. Just sorta goes plop.

In the west a heavy turret has been put up, complete with fortifications and reload team. Leaving the other 7 new refugees to aim heavy rifles at the mercs before them and turn the tide. In the east things are calming after the explosion, its aggressor knocked out of the park. Go team? Apparently not as the four following the colossus appear to be debating further involvement of the monster. The five firing at Tek are momentarily only four as one avoids Tek's fire.

Tek sidesteps a blast that was a little too close and then lets off a five round burst at the one who came close, at least the one he thinks shot it.

Now behind the presumed safety of the walls, Pavel takes time to flex his limbs and move as close as he can toward the combination of fire and giant rock monster as he can and still not end up as an accidental casualty. His largest hammer is unslung from where it was across his back, and for now he holds the bow in one hand, the haft of the giant mallet in the other, waiting to see what happens with the fire. Fire, he knows. Plasma fires, he doesn't.

Bella lays where she landed inna fire. Burns. Only thing she fergot was marshmallows.

Finally a refugee guard makes it to the south turret to relieve Tek. Much appreciated apology for the delay. But there was this big explosion and a lot of panicking. Things are settling now as the refugees have turned the tide and are laying waste to the mercs who made this risky attempt. They should take a lesson from Bella, whose flames keep burning for 3 minutes total, one person caused a lot more devastation than 20 mercs could manage.

Beside the fire a debate is raging as its heat burns unnaturally. The four that followed the colossus seem quite at odds with the monster's involvement, demanding restraint against attacking other humans. The monster's handler claiming the fire burning is what restrained gained them.

Tek nods to his relief and points out the men who have been giving him problems before heading down to see where he will be of the most use right now.

Pavel sees the hesitation around him, and starts bellowing as authoritatively as he can in three languages. It's a vampire, not a human. Not only is it obvious by how it's acting by surviving all of this, but that he actually recognized its face as a known vampire who will simply come back tomorrow, if it escapes, so keep hammering! One of those languages has to work. Even yells at the rock monster itself, because that worked yesterday. Though he keeps his bow in one hand, the hammer in the other, he also calls for someone to give him a Blinder. Or just start throwing them at the fire. Then it's just a waiting game against damnable plasma.

The handler shakes his head a Pavel, who seems to be fanning the flames of debate with his contribution. "We don’t have anyway to find or kill a vampire in that fire. Even a tree like conjured before would not last long enough engulfed as it would be." He explains with a gesture to the field. "This is only the beginning, it's a demonstration of our weakness. Give the Family a month and they will have dozens of runs like this hitting our walls."

Bella's still busy doin what she was doin before.

Tek meets up with someone who seems to be directing the refugees and asks what needs fixing. He then moves off and begins the next round of repairs.

Pavel again expresses his frustration. Again, in three languages, he specifies, "Keep hitting the damn area until the fire goes out to keep it down, and then *I'll* go in there and stake it. I'll beat the shit out of it with this, if it needs it, and stab it's fucking heart with one of these!" He shakes the silvered hammer and then indicates the silver blades in his tool belt. "Don't be stupid and let them get away with a demonstration of weakness, prove that you're not weak! You can take a hit and come back with a bigger one!" To prove his own point, he puts the bow away and takes up the hammer in full, after unlocking the two silver blades for quick use when the time comes. His normally happy and bouncing face is set in an angry grimace; not necessarily directed at the people, but at the entire situation. His eyes watch the fire, perhaps waiting for it to simply go down enough that he could survive wading through it.

It's a good thing Bella ain't hearin that. She'd maybe get pissed. Again. More.

"Hit it with what? Water doesn’t work on plasma, even if we have the tanker full we'd need. We are weak to be caught off-guard like this. But that monster is not the solution. I told Marcel weeks ago that mines would be a good deterrent against gang attacks." One of the others remarks, stating his own opinion.

"The tree! The tree didn't burn away in an instant, just keep hitting it! Or a rock to keep it down! Just bat at the damn fire!" Pavel pantomimes his suggestion using his own hammer. "It's a fucking tree, you're bound to hit something if you just keep smacking 'till the fire's down enough for me."

"It will in there, shows just how impotent the thing is. Is this land worth fighting so hard over, worth thirty people dying in 2 days? Over money we could make if we bartered even just a bit? Fighting the gangs is fighting the air, when it's on fire. We don’t have the numbers to keep this up anymore." A third man voices with a perturbed shake of his head.

Pavel growls. A real growl, before speaking again. "No, you don't. But you are looking at one very, very dangerous enemy thirty feet away who *will* come back to fight you no matter what the fuck you do with the gang! At least keep whacking the fire with a tree while we argue about it!" He points toward the fire. "If you do not destroy that thing tonight, your people will keep dying, and *keep* dying, and *KEEP* dying until you either do kill it, or until there aren't any more of you left to try and kill it. I know! I knew it personally once, and it's vindictive!" He waves at the rock monster and tries a different tone. "Please just keep hitting until the fire goes down. Tonight you'll lose no more people batting at the fire than you would watching it burn. You have nothing to lose."

Bella feels so past tense. But she ain't. One burnin body sits up inna fire. Stands up. Feels like she got hit with a big ass damned tree too. That's why she looks 'round fer big giant tree swingin rock monsters first.

A dismissive wave is given to appease the large Russian at least, another three is conjured, and burns quickly. Three more follow before it seems to run out of power to conjure more. Less than thirty seconds passed in this show. Shortly after the flames slowly start to wither.

Pavel doesn't take time to argue the failures, at least they listened, even if it was appeasing boredom. He can't take plasma fires, but normal fires are nothing to a smith such as himself. Keeping his mouth shut, he readies the hammer for a swing and charges in, looking for the prey that he apparently feels cannot be allowed to escape without a fight.

Bella spots the big rock guy. Pretty easy. 'N it ain't got no tree. First happy thing Bella's seen the whole time. But she don't go runnin at it. She starts walkin back towards where she dropped her flamey shooter. 'R where she figgered she dropped it.

Seeing nothing inside the fire, Pavel simply keeps his hammer at the ready, scouring the flames for someone who he used to consider a close friend.

The flames are dying quickly, lowering by the second and increasing visibility through the heat and smoke. Still gotta be a real pain on the eyes to wade through.

Bella keeps on walkin back fer where she was. Ya know. The spot by the wall't don't gotta big ass hole in it.

It would be a pain on the eyes, if you didn't have the ability to grab a hot coal in your fist and hold it there to win a bar bet. Pavel keeps his hammer at the ready, his lips silent as if the fire were like wading through tall grasses in a hunt. Oh, there's the gazelle! The head of his giant mallet is raised, and he charges silently toward the only other person in the flames. It takes a moment to cross the distance, but it is enough that he gets in one huge swing.

Just when Bella's think she ain't gotta worry bout big asses hittin 'er with shit. One goes 'n sneaks up on 'er. All just fer walkin down the fackin street. She can't even yell "What the fack?!" at 'im. Just some crunchin 'n she goes flyin some. Again. Bella does another limp doll landin too.

Pavel actually takes in a sharp breath as the hit connects, and strongly, too. He rushes over to where the body has flown and kneels down, dropping the hammer so as to pull out the larger silver blade that he'd previously unlocked. Trying to relax his own aim, he plunges it downward and into the stationary creature's dead heart. As dramatic as that may be, it has been a long fight, and the knee upon which Pavel is resting his weight quivers as he thrusts down, throwing his shot off balance. The blade burrows a full inch into the concrete before he removes it, raises it over his head and with a loud cry, slams it down with all of his might. It buries itself up to the hilt, having gone completely through the small body and impaling the ground below.

Bella's damned tough. Stubborn. She don't even flinch!

A long night, a hard fight. A fight that a smith really isn't meant to do, but in times of great peril, those who believe in the prospects of good will go to great lengths to achieve it. He has come out largely unscathed, but is saddened by his own necessary actions. After waiting through the night, guarding the body as if it was a lost loved one. Lifting Bella's body into the open right before the sunrise, Pavel lays her where there will be no shadows. "Zhelayu vam obresti mir sleduyushchyei zhizni." May you find peace in the next life.