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Z2 watched with a panic as Z12 readied his weapon to take one of them down, as Z5 approached A7 plotting to kill A10 who took down A5. Everyone was starting to go into chaos now, not entirely sure who to trust anymore. It seemed that at this point, everyone was at each other's throats not sure if they wanted to kill someone to satisfy the creature or not.

"You all, look at yourselves! If we kill another person, then we're no worse than that horse thing is, are we? Just stop for a moment and think it through!" Z2 tried his best to project himself so the others could hear him. Not sure of what to do anymore, he decided it would maybe work if he tried to calm them.

Z2 raced over to Z12 grabbing hold of his arm gently, "Please, I know that we don't know each other and I honestly have no idea what's going on right now just as much as you don't... but I do know for a fact that an eye for an eye is not the way to go. Focus your strength on taking down that creature instead, not on someone who is just as scared and confused as you are. That girl was just frightened and had no idea what she was doing. None of us know what we're doing, and we all just want to survive. To do that though, we need to do what we can to work together until we can't anymore. We can't falter here, not yet... please."

[FIRE BAD. 16 HP.]

Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow.

Zeta Eleven’s mind, constantly working, constantly processing, constantly analyzing and thinking and calculating, was able for one moment to focus on a single thought.

Ow.

He had been flung several feet away from where he previously stood, his entire body lashed by the hellish flames. He laid still in the sand, consumed by the heat ripping through his singed flesh. Jaw clenched and eyes shut, a willful attempt to close his mind off from the burns and bruises. He was so good at thinking. So good at losing himself down countless branching lines of thought. Yet there was nothing he could do to push the pain from his mind.

Finally, with great effort, Eleven sat up, hand still tightly gripping his gun resting on his knee and other arm curled around his stomach to support himself. With a few labored breaths, he attempted to gather his thoughts, the only thing besides his weapon, his first aid kid, and his number that he had out there. And his armor, of course, which had just been so helpful. He weakly lifted his head, eyes wandering the scattered members of his alliance. Red and orange. Fighting. The color of fire. Eleven would have laughed, but his lungs felt as if they were full of smoke. It wasn’t that funny, anyway.

His gaze once again lingered on Alpha Seven, but now for an entirely different reason. That girl in his arms. He was defending her so fiercely. Which was noble, but none of Eleven’s concern. Slowly, the gears in his head resumed churning, spinning as they played the odds and considered options. The monster very obviously couldn’t be trusted. It also very obviously couldn’t be killed. Within both of these observations was the room for error. Maybe the beast was telling the truth this time. Maybe there was a way to defeat it. Which was more likely? Which would get him farther?

Eleven lifted his gun. Aimed. He was taking a chance. He hated taking chances. They were founded on nothing more than assumptions and gut feelings, based on only the flimsiest of facts. He didn’t even want to play the horse’s stupid game, but fire had a way of clarifying things. It was so powerful, so cleansing, so… straightforward. He could appreciate that.

Eleven pulled the trigger and shot Alpha Ten. Hell of a shot. One in a million.

Weapon being used: Gun. Bang.
Total damage to self: 0 HP
Total damage to Alpha Ten: 7 HP
Total HP value left: 16 HP

13HP~

Ten. Alpha Ten. NOT TEN.

Twelve had known that she probably didn't pose much of a threat when she stood before Alpha ten and Alpha Seven. But she had stated in rather declarative manner that she wouldn't let ten die.

Not Alpha Ten.

When the shot rang out, Alpha Twelve had meant to throw her mace forward to stop the gun from shooting out. When Eleven lifted his gun, his target obvious, it was clear who he was going to gun down. But in the process of lifting the mace, the heavy ball at the end threw Twelve's delicate frame back, spoiling her intention to knock the gun from Zeta Eleven's hands. Instead, she landed on the sand, back flat, with a sharp gash across the cloth of her arm, the material started to redden around the edges.

Not ten. "Tentententen, tell me you're still there. TEN. TEEEEEEEN. TEEEEEEEEEEEEN."

Weapon being used: Mace. BAM.
Total damage to self: 1.5 -> round to 2?
Total damage to Zeta Eleven: ZERO
Total HP value left: 13 HP

Go ahead! Tear each other apart! He was ready!

Or so he thought.

A soft grip on his arm made his heart jump. He jolted slightly, looking to Z2. His words calmed 12's staggering sanity. Bringing him back down. His voice quivered. "But....I..." How could he try and hold onto hope? But this man was pleading with him.. His words were so touching in such a foul situation. 12 swallowed hard, trying to compose himself, when a sudden shot rang through the air over the noisy babble of team members.

His head turned. "What... was that?"

[PSST. Zeta Eleven. Though I wouldn't mind if you attacked Alpha Eleven instead. =D]

ZETA EIGHT IS *ATTACKING* ZETA ELEVEN... KINDA

Zeta Eight had merely given Alpha Eight a level, penetrating stare at his answer before turning away dismissively, back to the situation at hand. The accusation had been made, the seed of distrust planted -- that was all she had set out to do. He had cast his lot in her mind, and while she would do nothing now, she was sure they would meet again when the time was right to settle the score. She was under no delusion that he had any love for her, and she reciprocated the feeling. For now, there were greater things at stake.

Such as the hell that had suddenly broke loose.

She hadn't even turned completely before she heard the sound of a skirmish, followed closely by a deafening roar that filled the air, still crackling with fire. Her entire body jerked at the sound of the gunshot, ears ringing as it faded, and she turned in what felt like slow motion, knowing exactly what had happened even before she moved. Her eyes fell on the limp body of Alpha Ten with a sense of shock, her own suddenly completely rigid, completely at odds with the stoic, loose posture she had adopted.

It was the first time her movements were truly reckless.

If those first few moments had felt like an eternity, the last few felt like seconds. Zeta Eight didn't even realize she had snapped her gaze towards Zeta Eleven, nor that she had swung her mace high until she was already mid-dash towards him, an uncharacteristic snarl escaping her lips, distorted by the mask which kept them all faceless, unidentifiable shapes. The burns on her back, already having begun to scab, cracked as she ran -- she could feel the wounds oozing, blood trickling down her back, but she continued unhindered, true murder in her eyes for the first time since she had appeared at the island.

At the last moment, reason won out, and she slammed her mace into the sand by his feet, using it for support as she leaned in close to grab Zeta Eleven by the front of his armor, pulling his face close to his so he could hear her hissed whisper.

"You stupid ********> Didn't you see the way he was reacting to her? Do you REALLY think he's going to let you walk away from that? DO YOU?"

Weapon being used: Mace
Total damage to self: 1 HP
Total damage to opponent: 0 HP
Total HP value left: 11 HP

Carefully, quietly treading past and watching from as safe a distance as possible. Which turned out to only be a few feet from where he had his choice words with Zeta Eight, Alpha Eight made his way closer to where the confrontation was taking place. Emotions and tensions were running high and Alpha Eight felt a bit out of place. He honestly had hoped to find a relatively peaceful zone, if such a place even existed amongst the chaos. Clutching his medical supplies even closer, he took a step back from the heated crowd and tried to keep his breathing as soft as possible. Not that breathing pattern would actually hide him in the cluttered mix of Alphas and Zetas since he was wearing a particularly bright red, but even so, he felt slightly less intimidated by the threats from both sides when he wasn't making himself known by unknowingly imitating Darth Vader.

Nice and easy, no need to notice the guy with the bandages...

Though he did loathe the proximity of the battle, he couldn't argue with the view this time around. Alpha Eight's eyes widened as the gun fired and it appeared his female teammate was hit with an unusually accurate shot, especially for this bunch.

"Damn..."

He instinctively held the bandages and supplies tighter and his whole body tensed up at the sound of the gun firing. Even with his morbid sense of humor, the attacks were hitting too close to home now. He would have to leave the jokes behind and make sure he found a shield or three. Yes, shield, that was top priority now. Once that was settled, he could focus on making sure another died to appease the beast. He needed that pendant after all. Though after a few seconds, the shock wore off and he found he could actually aid in their endeavor. Didn't really matter who he took out, just as long as they were definitely dead. Still he needed to keep up the appearance of a caring teammate. That was the ticket for sure. Soap opera acting ready? Go.

"Oh god! Are you okay Alpha Ten!?"

One more person to pretend to care about. Though he had to admit, she was just cowering there like a scared kitten. It was ridiculous how easy it was for them. Funny even. Oh no, he was snickering again. Best disguise this one. Fake a cough.

"Ugh, guh, how awful!"

There it was.