Aug 31 18:05:44 109 PA - Bum Fight!

From Chronicles

Aug 31 18:05:44 109 PA.

NORTHWEST 'DREGS

At this time in the afternoon, sunlight is still around but the area contains an air of depression that only the 'Dregs can hold. However, this being an odd transition zone between civilization and anarchy, strange people can come into contact sometimes. This seems to have happened. Near one of the many piles of junk at an intersection that long ago fell into disuse are six people. Three humanoids in body armor, armed with long rifle-looking weapons, three distinctly non-humanoids in body armor that manages to accommodate forms similar to that of a spider. With an odd, nearly centaur-like torso, they too carry rifles, this time a common wilderness version. Through external speakers, they are in a clearly heated argument.

Gabriel happened to have been on a brief visit to Little Russia, armed and armored, jet pack on his back as he always is when entering these parts of town. For now, he remains east of the problem, not yet getting involved, but obviously ready.

Having heard of the disturbance on the radio Tek geared up quickly and headed this way to get a better look at the situation. He concentrates for a moment before moving in close enough to get a better look. He has a UTI Zapper Gun at the ready as he slowly approaches.

Valeriya was just minding her own business in a walk through her neighbourhood. She still is actually, keeping a healthy distance from the debacle. A long snakey lizard hangs from her right shoulder, tailing all the way to her thigh.

Sithik happens to be in the area when the argument takes place, on his rounds of passing out the portion of his catch set aside each day. There may not be shooting, but it is certainly enough to get some attention to see what's going on. So with a string of rabbits slung over his shoulder, reptilian pet close by his side, they make their way in that direction to get a better picture of what is going on and what the fight is about.

As the group becomes aware of Sithik's close proximity, one of the tall humanoid figures breaks off and jogs toward the tattooed man with an upraised hand, the muzzle of his weapon pointed safely at the ground. "Hello," comes a pleasant call. Meanwhile, back at the group, they continue to argue, debating the merits of humans and non-humans.

A close look at Gabriel might say that he's in the loop. However, considering where he is and what kinds of things go on around here, he chooses to find a safe spot to shelter behind, putting a chunk of debris between himself and the heated conversation. A slap of his gauntleted hand ensures that the dual magazines of the pulse rifle are set.

Tek moves in closer keeping as much cover between himself and the group getting just inside three hundred feet of the gathering.

Valeriya rolls her eyes as she catches wind of the debate's topic. So much talk has come of it lately. But as it maybe an opportunity to learn of things she's heard connected to the talk she turns to start walking towards the scene. The fact magical plating shimmers over her body probably goes unnoticed by most.

Sithik nods off to the other part of the group still arguing amongst themselves, not stopping his approach in that direction, but he does slow some, "What is the debate about?" questioning of the armored humanoid approaching him. A look going over the spider-like individuals looking for that special ankh that’s been seen around town.

The crowd continues to argue, but is slowly turning more to notice people around, particularly Sithik and Valeriya as they are the most obvious in the area. The being near Sithik speaks a little, "Yeah, glad you came along when you did." The little spider-like fellows raise their weapons, ready to fight but not yet being the ones to take the first shot, while the other two humanoids continue to argue, though starting to fade outward toward the inquisitive from the city.

Back east, Gabriel remains where he is, just watching, though putting the rifle up and at the ready as soon as the other weapons start to come up. He tries the local radio band. "Anybody here?"

Tek continues to creep forward though trying to keep cover between himself and the group moving in to about two hundred feet.

Valeriya doesn’t hesitate when the spider things draw their weapons, the humans backing off. She's just going to keep her pace steady until she can address one of the dbs, provided the scene doesn’t disintegrate before that can happen.

Sithik's expression changes into a fit of rage as he notices the upraised weapons poised for attack. He reacts by sending in his pet at the closest spider with raised weapon as an aura of heat emanates off of the hunter causing a dim glow of wispy red to surround him as he too charges in drawing a dagger from its sheath. The reptilian creature leaps at the command and attacks the spider pointed to by its master without hesitation. Leaping up going for the back of the spider with speed and grace.

As the reptile jumps up and attacks one if their comrades, the two that can still see it open fire with their wilderness rifles. They might be quicker that one would expect of people in spider armor. The one that was struck lightly turns to throw the animal off. It might not be dangerous, but it's annoying.

None of that is good. While he doesn't know why Sithik chose to attack the D-Bees unprovoked, Gabriel can't just lay in trash and not do anything. Since he's too distant to throw anything at them, but neither does he have a direct reason to attack anyone, he simply fires a burst over the heads of everyone involved. Perhaps it will get their attention and stop the fight.

As a fight unexpectedly breaks out, the humanoids have broken a short distance from the spiders, passing Valeriya and Sithik by only a few feet, then stopping to observe the fight. One of them calls loudly, "Down with monstrous D-Bees!" and gazes off in Tek's direction. "You're fighting with us, aren't you friend? Against this stupid suggested oppression of the D-Bee morons?"

Of course everyone has to start shooting before Valeriya can even get a say in the matter. Valeriya looked momentarily concerned at Sithik's sudden outbursts. However that concern quickly turns to anger and it looks like she's going to hold him mortally responsible for the situation. That is until she disappears. When she reappears Sithik is trapped in a magic net, and she has a long ice sword in hand to strike him with..

Tek ignores the humanoids as if they had not even commented to him as he continues forward towards the conflict.

Sithik being entangled in the magic net, is forced to end his attack on the spider folks, the pierce of Valeriya's blade gives him a new target to focus his rage on. A large demonic creature with a fin-like tail appears behind Val lunging at her with two big claws.

As soon as the tall woman grabs the tattooed man in a net, and a demon rises from nowhere to attack said woman... the three spider creatures scurry into the northern debris at amazing speeds, almost as if they knew exactly where they were going. Unless someone were to deliberately try to run and chase them down, they're gone.

Valeriya grabbed Sithik? Demon strikes at Valeriya? That's new. Gabriel even grumbles as much as he gets to his feet. "That's new." There's only one target that he doesn't know personally still standing and dangerous. However, as he has yet to be seen doing anything wrong, the old soldier can't help but simply start moving toward the battle, trying to sort out a solution.

The man not trapped in a force field runs out of Tek's range, making sure that he can't get caught in his own bubble, waving his hands in surrender as he does. Not exactly surrender, but trying to reason with people. "Hey, hey! What are you fighting about, did those bastards do something to you?" The caged men call for their freedom, very reasonably too, for people who hadn't done anything wrong.

Valeriya is not easily flanked, the appearance of a new foe readily met with parries from her sword. She is also not one to let such a threat continue to harass her. In an instant it is netted like its master was before, and she reappears holding a globe of fire..

Tek stops his slowed actions at this point and moves to within 150' of Sithik and Valeriya, "What the hell are you two doing? Knock that shit off!"

Sithik can do nothing except try and cut himself free, as does the demon runner that tries to claw its way through its binding. The reptilian companion has slinked away in the chaos to lick its severe wounds.

Gabriel continues to run toward the fight, having closed the distance by half on fleet feet. "Hey! What the fuck!? Who're you?" he calls out to the free man.

The two caged men open up with their rifles, one of them blowing through the psychic field, the other one nearly taking it down, but not entirely. Now freed, the one man doesn't look too happy, but refrains from using his weapon on Tek, the obvious perpetrator of the whole thing. The other fellow who has remained free the whole time, and first spoke to Sithik keeps his distance from the battle, just watching.

Valeriya does not look calm and contained by the mental barrier. No a lifetime of knowing speed is life has taught her better than that. And now she has a third opponent it seems. She'd tell Tek to butt-out if she wasn’t so blind with rage. Instead she works through the field in a blur, aiming to follow up with another net around victim number three. Her lizard doesn’t like being contained either. Though it doesn’t understand her issue with the tattooed man it readily claws at its prison.

Sithik should count himself lucky Valeriya can't seem to harm anyone when she looks to fold time. Otherwise, why wouldn’t she cut him up like an angry blender. No all her attacks have come in real time. With preparation folded. And for now she likes real time, pressing her advantage to slice at Sithik as much as she can.

Tek just says, "Forget it kill each other then. Here they are all off!"

Sithik continues to struggle at cutting free of the net, which he finds a capable project as his small dagger is able to sever the strands entwining him. He is still by no means free but will not rest until free or dead. The Demon runner roars in rage as the fire burns the trapped beast struggling in its own attempt to escape. Val's sword gets through his magical protection on the first stab, the second getting right by the chain mail protection to sink into his own flesh, but the third is stopped by the chain mail vest worn as protection.

Gabriel remains lost and confused. The spiders are gone, two friends are trying to kill each other, one is frustrated by trying to help them, three strangers are standing around... and then there's a demon? His rifle is raised instinctively, but without any reason to choose a target, he can only cue the radio, "Does anyone know what the fuck's going on?!?"

Tek crosses his arms as best he can in the web and just looks at the two, "Did something get into one of your heads, both of them or are you really intent on killing each other?" Tek does not even attempt to get out of the web at this point.

As the bubbles drop, the three men who had been here at the start move to congregate closer - not together, but within easy shouting distance. Following a short conversation about how crazy these people are, they start to run south, presumably toward safer environs.

Valeriya keeps up her focused assault on Sithik. All other threats secondary.

Sithik is only getting more furious as Val's sword keeps sticking him. His chain mail destroyed on the last hit and he is bleeding profusely from the numerous stabbings he has suffered.

As the men run off, Gabriel decides to do what he can, and that is to try and eliminate the demon. Demons are never good for anyone, being his logic. The raised rifle points in on the beast's head, and he fires a burst of kinetic rounds at it which neatly hit where they were supposed to.

Tek decides he is tired of being stuck so he turns on the built in laser torch to it's highest setting to try and cut his way out.

Valeriya slows to a stop, breathing ragged but eyes still full of hate as she glowers at Sithik. "Remember these scars the next time you wish to bumble into my way!" She screams at him before vanishing to leave the scene.

Sithik growls back at the woman as she vanishes, "Coward! Come back and fight me!" still slicing at his bindings furious and eager to get out and rip her limb from limb. The burning beast roars loudly, most likely attracting more attention on the area as it struggles against its bonds.

"Great, now I'm alone," Gabriel comments as Valeriya vanishes, leaving himself the only person armed to fight a demon. The rifle belches flame and projectiles twice more. It's an easy target, even if he wasn't a good shot, and the rounds tear into its flesh, or whatever the proper term for such a thing might be.

Tek continues to cut his way free from the magic net using the built in laser torch that is built into his left gauntlet.

"I hate things that don't die," Gabriel mutters into the radio for anyone within five miles to hear. Another burst of fire shreds the demon so much that only the supernatural would hold it together. He grabs his knife and runs forward to slit its throat before it can be set free of its bonds.

Sithik is getting so close to being free of his bonds, large slices have been cut into them allowing his limbs to become partially free giving him new vigor in his cutting. The demon roars as Gabriel's shot slices through the burning beast that suddenly disappears. The hunter lets out a loud howl as the demon is weakened, seeking the one shooting at it as he struggles to rip the final strands of the net apart and be free.

Tek continues to calmly cut through his bonds as he says over the radio, "It seems the creature is a friend of the hunter's. I don't think he liked that you were shooting at it Gabe."

"Oh? Oh..." Gabriel's demeanor rises and falls rapidly with Tek's helpful realization. "We can talk about this later," he suggests over the radio and via speakers before engaging his jet pack and flying off at speeds which thankfully not even the supernatural fliers that he's met so far have been able to meet. It's wise to know when to leave the battlefield.

Sithik tears free of his bindings, with a quick kick and arch of his back being back up on his feet seeking the man launching upward with his jet pack. This infuriates him even more as another foe flees. Roaring in anger and hatred, "YOU CANNOT HIDE! I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE!" pointing his dagger in Gabriel's direction. Blood pours from wounds inflicted by Val's wicked sword.

Tek looks over to the bleeding tattooed man and says over the speakers in his armor, "Would you like some help to the hospital?" having come through speakers and the fact that his face and body are all covered his demeanor seems like he is still standoffish towards the enraged hunter though obviously still concerned due to the amount of blood pouring out of his wounds.

Gabriel won't be found at home. Or the office. At least not for a while anyway, he's no fool. Fortunately, there are a quiet parts of the city even in these odd times.

Sithik turns to face Tek, still foul in mood, "I am fine, they will die now." He whistles for his companion that attempts to answer, but can only make a sound indicating it is hurt bad which brings the hunter running toward the sound of his wounded pet.