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[Attacking: Utopia]
Tala = 11; +3 Utopia = 21.

Shakuntala started to feel she should've paid more attention during the sparring portion of survival training. She was still in the same position; scouring the wall left to right as Utopia followed her movements like a piqued cat upon prey. Testing the space on each side was difficult; Utopia was such a hulking mass of stupidity and evilness that the shorter trainee still could not see passed or around him. Even worse, her roses for her dear sister would wilt by the time she even got herself out of this situation.

There was only one thing she could do: Shakuntala had to gun it, and fast.

As if the spirit of the wind itself had granted her its power, the trainee kicked off from the wall and catapulted herself away from Utopia. This sudden movement seemed to throw the gangster off guard, but his instincts were sharp, and he made up loss ground by galloping long legs in accordance with her rush. Catching up to her, he tried to weaken her with another balled fist in the middle of her being, but Shakuntala retaliated quickly. With a fist of her own, she delivered a sudden uppercut to the side of his jowl. Despite the deep internal regret she felt for lashing out at Utopia, her life was on the line, so she felt her action was justified.

Utopia bit down hard on his tongue; drawing blood. As his mouth brimmed with crimson, he realized he had an advantage in this close combat, and took it by the horns. Suddenly, Shakuntala was drawn up close into the crook of his arm. An intense pressure was applied to the center of her throat as the man held her in a tight head lock. The trainee screeched in fright; clawing at the skin of his bare arm and kicking wildly at the floor like a frightened animal snared in a trap.

The girl was rendered immobile and all the flailing in the world wouldn't save her now.

((Saga: 14+3 = 17. I actually shouldn't have rolled the second dice, but it wouldn't have hit anyways xD
Also this is the 2nd hit on Utopia once you've got your post done, Nana! He only needs one more! Though Tala should be out cold now. o-o;; ))

Standing unsteadily above Saga, Capek's vision swam. He was not yet recovered from that blast from the gun next to his ear. The sounds of the others fighting sounded cold and distant. One thing only recieved all of his wavering focus- the rifle. "Ohhhh yes." He growled and spat, drawing a sleeve across his face- which only succeeding in making a muddy smear out of his sweat and dirt. I'm gon' show them... He bent to pick up the gun. First, he'd put a bullet in this idiotic man. Then, whoever else was nearest. His hand was inches from grabbing it... and then he suddenly dropped, unpredictably, towards the ground. He began to turn, but failed to catch even a glimpse of his new opponent before he was smacked against pavement and knocked out cold.

Saga, who had by this time returned to the land of the living, blinked his eyes open in a confuzed daze as he rose- and then seeing his rifle on the ground, suddenly remembered where he was. He swiped it as he leapt to his feet, shouting. "SWINE! FACE ME- ..." His gaze shot between Hwan and the man on the ground. The pieces then fell together and he smiled gratitude, approaching his savior with arms outstretched. "Brilliant young sir, I may very well owe you my li- IN THE NAME OF SINA CEASE THIS DEPRAVITY" Expression turned from wonder to anger and his volume cranked up considerably; over Hwan's shoulder, he had just witnessed Utopia hitting Tala and putting her in a headlock. Did he intend to choke her to death? Without another wasted moment, Saga stuffed the gun into Hwan's arms and dashed. He came down on the merciless gangster like a slighted swan, putting all of his momentum into a deft elbow-to-the-face. It slammed into Utopia's with an audible crack and the gangster staggered back, grip loosened.

After Amalia's impressive smackdown, even Utopia knew the battle was lost. Saga watched, debating his next steps as the gangster scampered back up and fled down the alley, prompting Capek as he passed by. It seemed their leader had only been pretending to be down and out; with nobody to impede them, the two slunk away as fast as they could. Letting them go was not ideal, but there was an unconscious lady to tend to. Besides, they had what they needed- Ripper was still on the ground where Larisa had left him.

Once Utopia had disappeared around the corner with his boss, gone for good, the MP's puffed-up chest deflated as he slowly and powerfully exhaled through his nostrils. The adrenaline rush was beginning to ebb. He then smiled and laughed, clapping his hands on the adjacent Amalia's shoulders as she stumbled, unfazed by her injury in all of his blind enthusiasm. He then quickly crouched down by Shakuntala, vaguely recognizing her from the parade. She was out cold but thankfully not all that injured. A fair maiden left to fall to the ground! He shook his head, admonishing himself for not having caught her as she fell- something which, as a hero, he had trained himself for. Next time he returned home, there would be another intense session of having servants push down a mannequin in every conceivable situation for him to catch.

"Pardon me," he stated in rhetorical politeness, lifting Tala off the ground to carry her bridal style before turning to face everyone else again.

"Sirs and Madams," he smiled, bemused as he addressed all of his rescuers, "Your swift flights into battle were of a bravery matched only by the Scouts. You are all splendid, truly! For certain, this warrants note to your superiors. I can't wait to tell them of your exploits." His embellishing odes on the day's events would probably not be met with the kind of reaction he was imagining from the training staff. "You shall all make exemplary soldiers. I will see that you are all well taken care of at the nearest Garrison post, where we must tend to ourselves," he then gestured to Ripper, "and bring him in for questioning."

Meanwhile, a rythmic clop of hooves cued everyone in to Drakon's return. The black horse had been waiting at the other end of the alley and now approached the humans curiously, having sensed an end to the turmoil.

Amalia licked the blood off of her knuckles as she walked over to the bouquet and bent over to pick it up. Walking back over to Saga and Shakuntala, she handed the red eyed girl the roses before giving the military police officer a questioning look. "We've been looking around for clues all ********' day. How'd you find those guys?"

((Sorry for the short reply. Tired and no inspiration making for lackluster responses. And badly written explanations I'm too lazy to think how to phrase better.))

"Whoa-" Saga's knightly composure faltered for a moment as he fumbled while Tala rolled herself directly out of his arms without warning. His reaction was feeble like that of someone who had inadvertently pushed a paper off their desk and was attempting in vain to catch it midair, before realizing that Tala had in fact come back to life.

"Ah, good!" Returned to a straight posture, Saga curtsied a greeting. "Young lady, your assistance earlier was most appreciated. It is well to see you returned to us, and I apologize that harm had come to you. If you would accompany us to the nearest Garrison HQ, we will see that you are treated." He began to stride towards the unconscious gangster as Amalia was returning Shakuntala's bouquet, but swung around and beamed at the green-haired girl's question. "I would be -MOST- pleased to share with you that tale!" He then turned around and heaved Ripper over his shoulder by the legs, letting his upper body hang in the back as he headed back towards Drakon.

"There was a child, with voice tremulous from tears- light and scared, like a sparrow lost in the dark. She alighted upon the door of our proud establishment. Listen, I told the soldier presently occupying his post; does this lament not pull at your heartstrings?" With theatrical flair effect, Saga paused his motions fastening the gangster to the back of his horse and clenched his fist over his chest, nose pointed skywards. Normally anyone would sound lame saying the things he did, but the white-cloaked MP was delivering a play-worthy performance.

"But nay! Tempers rose and words were said, but the grinch would hear none of it. To my dismay, the child had gone by that time- but with Drakon I gave chase. We galloped after her like a righteous wind towards the scent of injustice wafting in from o'er the horizon." He finished that phrase with a gesture in in arc towards the distance, fingers spread, and then quickly finished tying Ripper. Drakon fretted, ears swivelling back and forth; unsure what to think of the stranger on his back. Taking the black stallion by the reigns, Saga looked back to the trainees.

"Are ye all set?" After any affirmative response, he began to lead them back to the building while continuing his somewhat overdramatic retelling. "And so, I discovered her among a circle of other children. They had gathered as strangers, but were as one in their dejection. I asked them where each of their friends lived, and where they played; soon I had a map of likely areas, and... Lo And Behold! This Alley sprung out to me, which had before been cloaked in a thick miasma of EVIL! Then, I bid the children adieu, thanking them for their assistance, and hunted down these vile men with my noble steed, Drakon." He patted the horse on the side of the neck, prompting an appreciative nicker.

"Yerh... noble steed... stinks." Came Ripper's unexpected reply, as he had regained consciousness during the bumpy ride. As if he understood what the gangster said, Drakon suddenly kicked and bounced, which only got the gangster to start screaming obscenities for all the street to hear. Under the shocked gazes of citizens who were suddenly paying far too much attention to the strange little procession of trainees with the one whom they might remember as that year's Field Parade Marshal, Saga knocked him out again with a carefully aimed punch.

"Hm. That is unfortunate." He felt a little sorry, though it was more due to the fact that they would need him to wake up again for questioning, and that so many blows to the head may cause memory loss.

By the time that ordeal was done and over with, they had arrived to the garrison outpost. A few moments after Saga called, a man and woman came outside to assist with dismounting Ripper and bringing him inside to tie him for further questioning. About half an hour later, everyone had been fed, their wounds cleaned and bandaged. For the swelling there were poultices wrapped in cloth set on a table, which could be held against offending areas. There were also plenty jugs of water for anyone who needed a drink.

The two Garrison soldiers were standing near the door, unsure whether or not they wanted to be part of this questioning.
Ripper sat in handcuffs, legs tied to the chair he sat on; he was just beginning to wake again.







((Y'all requested a time skip! I must oblige. rofl ))

Shakuntala nibbled the edge of her bottom lip and tried to save face as the male gave her a gallant curtsy. Despite the turn of events, the copper-skinned trainee really felt she hadn't done much in the matter; she got the wind knocked out of her twice and even lost consciousness. Did she really aid him and the other trainees in battle against the gangsters? Internally, she was denying the possibility fully, but she still nodded her head in gratitude to Saga's rather enthusiastic display. More than anything, getting herself and the others patched up took priority. Her swimming emotions in regards to how big of a help she was would have take residence in the back of her mind for now.

Carrying on with the others as Ripper was hauled like a sack of potatoes ripe from the harvest with them, Shakuntala half-listened to Saga's grand proclamation of the events that led to the scuffle that took place. Had his words been put down on parchment, she was positive it would've been a grand play that would shake the already bitter attitudes many have of the military. However, remaining an audience to the picture that was painted was for naught as the trainee seemed to turn the frame to the wall. Instead, she was concentrated largely on the bouquet still hugged to her bosom and smelling sweetly pungent.

At least the flowers were safe.

The Garrison soldiers were kind; one of the female soldiers instantly catching on to Shakuntala's shaken self and parting a few kind words and a cup of water her way. She wasn't as banged up as the others, having only suffered from visceral bruises to her ego, not so much her body. Her neck did ache, which she pressed a poultice to to hopefully dull the pain, but otherwise, she was quiet as she leaned against one of the opposing walls and sipped at the cup given to her. For now, she was going to play the role of observer in this unfortunate interrogation.

(( Ughhh, sorry this is so late. ))