Mar 13 16:01:35 107 PA - Championship Bout
From Chronicles
"And we have a stunning event planned tonight folks for the weeks gladiatorial event. We all knew it wasn't over when Exotic Opponents Inc's last champion was ousted by Megalith of the Juicer federation. They promised to be back with a bigger and badder monster no one could stand up to. And we knew they would. And they have, direct from some other dimension we present The hunter!" The announcer speakers broadcast, introducing the very large titan juicer on one side and signaling the gates opening to reveal...
"What kind of a name is hunter anyway? Guess they take the old homage simple is good to heart at Exotic Opponents Inc. Hey wait a minute, there's no one there. These people expect and event, you cant just forget your monster at home.." And indeed the doors revealed no monster, nothing at all. The juicer sighs and looks bored as he waits for the mix up to be clarified. He never saw the claws coming. In and matter of seconds Megalith is torn into from behind and torn apart by a very fast and very hard to see sinister predator. And then its over, Megalith lying on the ground dead or dying, his opponent, once again no where to be seen. Theres a still silence throughout the arena before the realization that nows a good time to panic sets in as the next victim gets cut down.
What better way to relax than watch others beat themselves bloody for your enjoyment? Brady can think of a few more desirable activities, but the match should be good enough. He's one of those calling out their annoyance when 'Hunter' isn't anywhere to be seen... then cheering as Megalith finds him. Looks like not being seen was the idea.
Erica went to the arena despite her better judgment. She doesn't usually go in for blood sports, but the advertisement for today's event peaked her interest. Sitting in about the middle rows she gets an ok view, but doesn't have to deal with everyone that is upfront. She remains mostly silent but when she sees the horrible destruction of Megalith she pales and shakes her head in disgust.
Vixen begins this outside of the arena. She's not much for the bloodsports, but she does happen to be passing by on a trip into the Dregs. And so will be near to the front of the place when the ruckus starts. And as she takes note of it, she slows her highwayman and glances over, brows lifting slightly behind her helmet.
A giant juicer being putted against an unknown dimensional gladiator in a battle to the death in front of a giant viewing audience? What could be more entertaining? Having wandered in early, she's set up a nice little base of operations in the middle-front seats (close enough to see all the damage, but not close enough even for those long-range splatters). Beer perched to her left, nachos peanuts and a sausage-piled-high-with-onion-and-bell-pepper-and-mustard to her right. Giving a cheer during the introduction, she frowns to herself at the anticlimax. The super climax lifts her eyebrows as she takes a bite of her sausage - this part of the show?
Megalith is down for the count, leaving hunter to consider the front row! Luckilly the high walls and energy shields act as an adequate buffer for anything bigger and a spray of blood. However, the energy shields are not indestructible. They flash indicating somthing viscious is tearing into them, those seated in that area start to quickly take their leave as the stadium security mobilizes.
"Didn't anybody feed him?" Now Brady isn't cheering. The flickering of the shields means that something is headed his way. He stands up on the seat, to get a better look and not get trampled by the people that want to leave. Now that the show isn't so much about /others/ getting torn apart, it's not so entertaining.
Erica looks a little surprised as the energy shields start flashing as they repel the hunter's attacks. She draws out her vibro knife and looks around trying to find reason or a pattern to the hunter's movements. She doesn't switch the knife on quite yet as she waits to see if the security can handle this hunter. She seems quite concerned as she stands up and backs up a little. She gnaws on her lower lip nervously as she tries to somehow figure out where the hunter is or is going to be in case the arena's security squad can't handle it without help.
Vixen sits on her bike a moment, thoughtful on just what might cause the front security to start to vacate their posts. And people to be ushered away. Good sense and curiosity war, but after a moment curiosity wins out and she pulls her bike over into the lot, right up close to the entrance before she slips off, hits the kill switch and slips inside the building.
Well, that was almost a waste of the cost-of-admission. As people begin to stream away, panic setting in, Celaeno takes several bites from her sausage as she rises to her feet. "Cor, this could be better than the match," she says brightly to the area immediately surrounding her as she watches the security leap into action before taking her seat again and hunkering down. Thoroughly wedging herself into her seat, she folds her arms, propping her head up.
In the arena the security squads file out onto the field. One acts as cover for the paramedics that rush out to see if anything can be done for Megalith. The others cautiously surround the area where the predator is attacking the energy fields. At least 20 are set to this task, armored and armed with stun batons. The flashing stops, indicating the creature is no longer attacking the field. Seconds later one of the guards goes down as the hunter tears into him. The others rush to his aid but the hunter slips away into invisibility before they arrive. Their strategy adjusts, the guards form groups of four, but where did it go?
The hunter for the brief moments it can be seen when lashing out at someone is a long large reptilian creature with long claws and many horns and spines.
Erica frowns as she watches the guard go down from the hunter's attack. Shaking her head slightly she moves from her seat out into the stairs that go up and down in the arena. She switches on her vibro blade just in case it is needed. She walks down a few rows trying to figure out if the guard's strategy will work for them. Her eyes dart back and forth trying to catch some hint of the invisible terror, before it strikes again.
Brady is going to get his credits worth out of the show, and that means getting to see more than just half of it. "You might need to bring something bigger than sticks!" He'll stay behind the now-steady shield, of course, as he offers helpful tips to the security forces.
Vixen slips along behind the front security. Shadowing them slowly until she emerges from one of the passages between interior and exterior. She only comes out slightly, enough that she can see what's going on, but won't be easily seen or noticed. And she hunkers there, casually drawing a hand video camera from within one pocket.
Apparently the action isn't very engrossing, or Celaeno has decided that this moment would be the best time to take a little nap. Her eyes drooping, her breathing becomes rhythmic and shallow - it's a wonder she's not snoring.
The shields flash again but on the other side of the arena this time, drawing thew guard squads over there. As this happens the predator becomes visible to the people on the other side, leading to much shouting and cheering. The alien reptile is gone though long before the guards arrive. Some of the crowd tries for direction but it becomes a noisy clamor beyond understanding. Selecting the rearmost group the predator stirkes again, this time taking a guards leg in its mouth and bounding off towards the pens.. The guard screams, his companions turning to his aid quickly but too late. To the side another group goes about trading their batons in as the others continue the pursuit.
Brady takes a gander to either side at the stands, and finally notices Celaeno up a few rows. He would've known she was there earlier if she were snoring. "Hey there, Sunshine. Show still ain't enough for you, huh? Maybe we ought to kick it up a little more."
Erica keeps walking down the stairs as she approaches the front seats. Her eyes are focused on what is going on inside the arena. She tries to figure out some way she can help the outmatched guard units as she adjusts her grip on the vibro knife. She looks around for some way to get into the pens to try to help the guard, if he isn't dead already. She looks quite frustrated obviously wanting to help, but not sure how.
Vixen grunts and shakes her head slightly as she sees what's going on. "Figure they'd pull out something that'll bite 'em in the ass," she murmurs to herself. She doesn't seem in a hurry to help out with anything, lingering quietly to watch the unfolding events, camera set to start recording the action.
And then Celaeno slowly rouses, "Mmm?" she says, blinking awake at Brady's comment. A few moments are spent stretching, "Could be fun," she calls, glancing down toward the pens. She stands, picking up her sausage, bouncing slightly as she stretches her back, grunting slightly with the motion. "Not sure the guards'll take too kindly to it," she comments as she begins sliding toward the aisle, heading toward the stairs to the pen area.
It appears the creature is in the pens, the screams of the guard pick up as it tears into his armor. The other guards close and it stops the attack, vanishing once more. One of the teams closes the pen and there's palpable tension undle the shields flash down field again.
"Bet they're just lovin' how things are going now..." Brady laughs as he hops down off his seat to mosey on after Cel. Ladies first, and all, since he's a gentleman. On the way, he looks towards the flashing shields and the hunter. "Wonder what scaly's gonna do next?"
Erica looks around the pens as she rushes to look to see if the guard is ok. Not really able to see if the guard is ok from where she is. She turns around and looks to see if she can do anything to help out the remaining guards. She holds her knife ready in case she needs to attack at a moments notice. Her eyes dart about trying uselessly to pinpoint the location of the hunter creature while she slowly, walks.
Vixen starts to pick up on the others present as the moments pass and they progress towards the interior of the ring. "Not real smart," she murmurs lowly, keeping her distant position for the moment and working on capturing as much of the events as possible. Takes some time to get a feel for it. Especially trying to catch the critter, but she shifts the camera and keeps an eye out with her peepers separate, able to aim the camera with the display that flips out on the side.
"Probably have as much fun with the hunt as it can, really. Doesn't it seem to be enjoying itself?" Celaeno asks brightly, taking a bite of the sausage before dumping it in an appropriate refuse bin as they pass. And then they're down, "My, my, my. Hey there Erica," she calls at a distance as they approach the pens properly. "Springing into action ahead of the gang, are we? Trying to get yourself killed without any backup?" Her tone's happy as she grins, approaching fully, slowing down markedly when the area starts edging toward Dangerous.
A new player is on the field, much to the delight of the crowd. Not apparently in the notice of the creature yet as a guard squad returns with pulse rifles and another breaks off to exchange. The reptile instead hits another quartet, sweeping its tail around to take out their legs before pouncing with the stun baton. The rifle squad, turns and fires in response..
Brady bends his brim to Erica, overtop a grin. "Looking to get your freckles clawed off?" Now there's shooting, and more whipping around by the scaly varmint, and no more shiny shields between. His baby blues turn to fix on hunter and prey. "So, who's wagering on what? Got my credits on the one that ain't shootin' blind."
Erica doesn't really respond to Celaeno's or Brady's inane teasing and instead looks to where the creature took out another grouping of guards. She moves of in a counter clockwise motion around the arena as she watches to see what happens with volley of shots from the rifle squad. She keeps her knife ready as she moves, ready to counter sttack if the hunter comes for her. She doesn't look back to Celaeno or Brady, and instead keeps her eyes out on what is happening in the arena.
Vixen decides to ease forward a little. Safe enough for that. So, keeping the camera steady, she'll slip ahead and out of the passage opening. Moving down the aisle ahead slowly. A handful of rows at first on her steady progression towards about halfway down.
At the sound of rifle fire, Celaeno's grin grows wider. Her eyes simply drop and she shakes her head as Erica wanders off. "No bet. In any case, I don't think I'm going to be jumping into a shootout with my little club, here," she grins at Brady, edging back slightly. "Especially if they're shooting wildly at anything that moves." She turns to withdraw to a mildly safer spot, to somewhere she can sit down. With a view.
Of the four shots that were taken at the monster, only one hit and didnt look to slow it down any. One more guard is down, his helmet smashed and the stun baton not really stunning when it bludgeon's a human head with such force. The shields flash furthest from that point of strike shortly there after and the rifle squad turns again..
"Worth a shot." The shoulders of Brady's duster roll to Celaeno. "Don't get your ass shot off, Freckles." He calls out towards Erica. "That dress just wouldn't look right, after."
Erica crouches down low as she tries to keep a low profile in case any of the shots from the rifles come her way. She keeps circling around the arena wall as she tries to pinpoint the location of the creature. She seems ready to both counter attack or jump out of the way if the rifle squad decide to shoot her way. She continues to not pay much attention to Brady or Cel, having more important things on her mind.
Vixen shakes her head slightly as she shifts into the row one seat, a knee leaned against the back of the one ahead of her. Leaning forward against that brace as she continues to film quietly. She pays some attention to the three on the field, but most of her time is spent trying to track the something that jumps around. "Would figure they'd have someone to keep that whatever it is under control," she muses to herself. "Not real professional."
Celaeno withdraws fully, moving to pull up a seat to watch the fun, letting Brady make his own decision as to where he wants to go. Sitting in the first row, eyeing the woman with the camera only briefly among rest of the spectators, she repeats her motions before. She wedges herself into the seat, arms folding, head propping as she watches.
No shots are lucky this time, slamming into the energy shield instead which sputters then dies under the strain. The guards curse freely, some pointing accusingly at the shooting squad. Alarms sound and all the spectators with sense take their leave in all fashions except calm and orderly. But is it still here..?
"This rate," Brady smirks and draws his Glocks, "only way they'll kill it is a bellyache. Maybe drop the building on it..." From a ways across the field, he levels his irons at it, draws a bead, and fires.
Erica watches as the field goe down and swears to herself as she hurries forward to try to see if she can spot any tracks or markings that the creature made in the arena so that she might be able to follow it later.
Vixen is content to leave the fighting up to the guards, though when the field goes down she tenses. "That's not good.." She cocks her head, listening intently. Though carefully so as gunfire goes off. Listening, yet filtering out the loud sounds. If she hears something amiss, she'll want to know. Otherwise she remains sill and non-threatening, quietly filming Bray's shots.
As the shields go down and the alarms go up, Celaeno remains firmly fixed in her seat as the crowd panics (further) and begins its stampede toward the exits. She takes to simply watching for the moment, keeping her eyes fixedly open as Brady takes to firing his six-shooters.
Its easy enough even for a predator to tell the difference between the guard's fire and Brady's. Instantly its interest is changed and it charges at him. The guards though, now 8 in number with rifles as the third group goes to exchange, have no idea where it is.
It might not be too hard to figure out what the lizard is doing, for anyone paying attention to Brady. First is "Shit." then his grin turns into a determined scowl and his barrels track. "Let's see how skittery you are, lizard..." As the hunter closes, he opens up, repeatedly. One-shot kills are nice, but filling it with lead until it stops moving works just as good.
Erica looks over to Brady as he fires off his gun. She watches Brady unload and starts hauling ass over to him. She stays well out of his line of fire as she moves to try and protect the gunslinger as best she can. Her knife is held ready as she turns to looks to see what Brady is firing at.
Vixen is paying attention to Brady, so she picks up on the thing's focus on him. So she relaxes a little. Knowing.. roughly where the thing is helps. She zooms in to frame the area a bit better. The tip of her tongue sticking out slightly, though this is hidden behind her helmet.
Celaeno's grin slowly turns to scowl as the scenario develops. It's not enough to stir her from her seat - at least not yet, but it remains fixed as her eyes fix on the man in the duster.
Brady's shots graze the beast with no noticeable deterrence to the charge, the animal leaps and turns to bring its clawed feet into Brady's chest. Though most everyone watching will only see the impact if contact is made.
He's unlucky enough to have it coming for him, but at least Brady can see it coming. That, or he's not so unlucky, as he suddenly ducks down and to the side. His duster whips out from an unseen passing.
Erica charges in and tries to swipe her knife at the creature's estimated location as she tries to distract it from Brady, or at least damage the hunter a bit. She keeps crouched down as she tries to keep a low profile so that she'll make less of a target if anyone tries to shoot at the creature.
"You stepped in it now, man.." Vixen's low murmur as she watches the action.. as much as she can see of it anyway. She notices Erica's attempt to aid and her head shakes slightly. "Too helpful," she says lightly. Adjusting the zoom and framing of her shot to cover both Brady and Erica.
As the man rolls out of the way, and the knife flashes into use, Celaeno grudgingly stands up, unhitching her neuro-mace. She doesn't move in to assist yet, though, taking the time to simply concentrate, watching. "Ain't it ridiculous?" she calls over to Vixen in the increasingly deserted arena.
As the creature turns on a civilian the guards turn and take aim. The didn't fire immediately, not wanting what happened with the shield hitting the civilian. And the creature never revealed itself anyway so they waited until the next strike. Not a long wait at all.
Erica slashes at the creature as it attacks Brady again, scratching it.
Vixen remains distant and filming for now. She's not got much interest in getting into the melee herself. Not with so many guns looking for a target that she can't even see clearly. Well, see at all. but she keeps tracking the action, on the off change that she might get a shot of it.
Celaeno's position remains firm, mace in hand as she simply tracks the motion. Grave.
This time, the 'breeze' is a little more solid, and Brady is knocked back a few steps. The lizard might even flash visible for a moment here or there, but if not, the slashes in his duster are plenty visible. He didn't duck out of the way quite so well that time.
The lizard strikes home in its assault on Brady, but so does the firing squad. With a loud snarl of pain and anger it recoils from the assualt, slipping back into cloak as it flees.
Vixen winces faintly behind her helmet as Brady takes a hit. Though she frowns at her inability to track the thing. Her eyes lowering to screen, then rising up again. "Need to get a thermal attachment for this thing. And some optics in the helmet. Some glasses." Keeping her shot level as she considers this checklist of needs.
After a few more minutes with no more continued aggression from the beast it is clear the beast has fled for the time being. The guards then turn to the two civilians encrouching on the field. They'll have nothing of 'just trying to help' as they give Brady a stern lecture on the dangers of such. Just a warning this time as there were more important matters to see to.
Erica checks the field for tracks after the lecture, being deligent, looking intent on the pursuit.
Brady might have fired after the varmint, but all the energy blasts in his immediate vicinity are a little distracting. "Whoa! Slow down, there, boys... You're supposed to shoot at the thing you can't see when I /AIN'T/ standing next to it..." Well, there's the lecturing, too. He shrugs and holsters his irons. "Guess next time I'll just let it keep eating y'all, then."
