Spirit Operations Unit Leviathan (L3 | Open | SF/Fantasy)

[explodingstaples]

Nathaniel cocked his head to one side as Niko met his gaze. He didn't move an inch from his seat, leaning his body against the door. He just stared. He knew, as he always did, that the other man was rationalizing that Nathaniel wouldn't risk himself just to make a kill. It was always the same thing. He was always underestimated, no matter what he did. Not that it bothered Nathaniel, in fact, he knew it was a good advantage to have, not that the gaunt man particularly cared about having the advantage in most situations. In truth, Nathaniel would attack Niko without a second thought about his own well being or career. He had killed other Illuminated before. He had even killed Illuminated with enough skill to join SOUL. But... Something changed in Niko. The body language suggested something other than what Nathaniel had been expecting.

Nathaniel saw the twitch in the other man's lip. The clench of his jaw. The sneer, though, is what caught the attention of the aggressive part of Nathaniel's personality. Niko didn't respect his skill? His power? He would prove just how deadly he really was if this dog pushed him far enough. However, the flare of anger never broke through Nathaniel's calm, blank expression. He just stared. Maybe... It was fear? No. Nathaniel couldn't place it. His general apathy effectively made him handicapped in emotional intelligence. The thin, sickly looking man grinned, but the smile never touched his eyes. They remained empty. A shark's eyes. Nathaniel stared into Niko's golden eyes with his own light blue ones, blinking only rarely. He began to roll the bullet around in his hand again. If Niko actually knew anything about Nathaniel's capabilities, the subtle threat would not go unnoticed.  

[SiberDrac]

A hole opened up inside Strings and a grappling hook caught on one edge, then tugged hard, and upon Strings' growl, slipped off and back away, but not without leaving the scratch of memory. His opponent had done this - had tried to force him to obedience.

His successful hits had given him confidence, but not pride, and his misses had almost been expected - as a stationary combatant, Strings was accustomed to herding his opponents and being evaded. He always thought of himself like a mortar launcher, or a nest of machine guns. As such, it was necessary to anticipate, and anticipation in this case meant sending a toy comet arcing away from a sforzando and crashing into the next-higher platform of the fire escape, attempting to send the structure crashing to the ground.  

[Venom3001]

Location: San Lazaro Streets

A glance out the window of the van for those whose eyes were not occupied proved highly concerning: an elderly man in a track suit collapsed; two businessmen at the table outside a cafe clutched their chests; the knees of a woman stepping out of a McDonald's buckled, and as her (presumable) son and daughter rushed to help her up, they too fell. As far as the eye could see, people were dropping for no apparent reason.

The fallen then... shattered, it seemed, then reconstituted. They stumbled into standing positions, showing they had been shaped into pale, leather-armored swordsmen, perhaps five and a half feet tall each - and with perfectly identical faces.

What Eamon saw as the binding washed over him was far more disturbing. It was the feeling of a malevolent being binding free spirits, punctuated by humans being twisted into its servants by the once-free spirits, identical slaves, too far gone to save, built from the parts of their former bodies to fit the master's template.

As far as he knew, only a manifested demon could do that.

Around Uso and Frederickson, youths with cameraphones suffered the same fates; by the time what was happening was clear, the newly formed minions were moving to surround them.

The black phantom turned to the arcing attack; the phantom's body language indicated surprise as it briefly recoiled, glanced back and forth, looked back to the attack - too late to escape. As the blast hit the fire escape, the phantom braced itself, riding the fire escape to the ground and jumping clear at the last second. It rolled stiffly to its feet, leaning against a wall as it stood.  

[SirBayer]

"Oh s**t." That was all he could muster as he glanced around, watching the people die. He turned in his seat. "Alright, everyone, final checks, we're lookin' at a probable manifested demon. When we get eyes on target, nobody goes in immediately, understood? Wait for my go-ahead, weapons tight until then." If the squad went in swinging, they'd all die. No questions about that one. They'd all die anyway, but if he organized it right it might happen over time instead, and they'd actually get something done in the meanwhile.  

[Ivaylo_Sai]

Niko had been continuing to glare at Nathaniel, not the slightest intimidated by his not so subtle threat and starting to allow the voice in the back of his head to relish the thought of watching this man die. The commotion in the streets caused Niko's ears to flick but it wasn't until Eamon cursed and ordered checks that he looked away from the staring contest to see the horror in the streets. Minions to eat the cold voice purred and Niko caught himself almost smiling but dropped it quickly to make a check of his weapons and ready for orders. All thought of the pissing contest between him and Nathaniel forgotten, for now.  

[Mr. Blackbird Lore]

Jake gave a chase for an astounding five paces, which was about the time he realized people were no longer playing paparazzi- no, it was starting to look more like a leatherface flash mob. That wasn't ********>. Uso fell back to Strings's side. "Well... that was unexpected." Unexpected but not worrisome. Leather armor was nothing when Jake could punch hard enough to snap a neck and swords wielded by the average American's musculature were no threat to his hardened skin. Even if they were somehow stronger than before, the brawler had no fear- he feared nothing, even the Black Phantom.  

[umbraja]

Rachel had been watching the men in the car with her, studying them as she drove, and the tensions did not get past her but with the sudden introduction of the leather clad swordsmen her attention could not afford to be divided. She squeaked a little gasp in surprise and the car swerved slightly for it. Then as it became apparent what was happening, largely for Eamon's orders, she steeled her resolve with a deep breath and glared at the unfortunate souls on the road. With a considering humph she jerked the wheel slightly to clip one of the swordsmen that had gotten a little too close to the car. It was just a graze with the bumper, maybe break a leg but not enough to kill it. Unless they were particularly easy to kill but she had serious doubts of that being the case.  

[explodingstaples]

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow as Niko broke the glare. The man looked outside with a sort of detached interest. Well. That certainly wasn't normal. It actually looked rather fun, now that he thought about it. A cold, calculating smile spread across Nathaniel's face as he brushed the thoughts of killing Niko from his mind. This was shaping up to be a good fight. Nathaniel glanced toward Eamon, "Shall I be going after the demon or the pawns, sir?" he asked. He didn't know Eamon O'Byrne personally, but he had heard rumors. Some of them slightly odd, most involving alcohol, and all of them impressive in some way. He also knew that O'Byrne was in command of Team Seven, hence calling the Irishman 'sir' without proper introduction.

Nathaniel was rather disappointed in O'Byrne's order not to engage immediately. He wanted to see his opponents bleed and suffer as soon as he could make them. He didn't like the idea of waiting for an order. There was a reason the witch hated working on a team. Orders didn't sit well with his aggressive and overly impulsive nature. Nathaniel usually worked only when SOUL required an Illuminated who refused to be recruited taken out. No orders, no discretion, no caution. Just beautiful, beautiful killing.  

[SiberDrac]

"New, yes," Strings murmured quietly. The shift surprised him, but how much good would it really do him to be surprised for long? Obviously, had he fallen prey to the tug, he would have become a much more powerful mindless slave to the hunger. These were useless slaves, he hoped. Luckily, this was Strings' specialty. One-on-one combat was not very good for him. Flaying hordes where they stood... different.

His tone shifted. This was a song with lyrics that often sifted through Strings' mind. They spoke of a quiet soul with unreasonable needs, and the desire to unite the world against a universal ill. And besides, the orchestral lines lent themselves to a sort of surrounding, constant, driving feeling that was appropriate for the sudden rush of tiny, incendiary bombs that sprayed from his bow into the closest lost souls, one on each sixteenth note.

"I'll cover you. Kill the Black Phantom," he said. It was worded as a command, but said as an offer, or a suggestion. After that, he sort of mumbled the words to the song, in a growling, unschooled bass.  

[Mr. Blackbird Lore]

Jake Uso nodded, carrying complete confidence in his partner to fend off the- Jake's mind had taken to referring to them as 'leatherfaces' despite their lacking faces made of leather. He sprinted toward the alley, railing on any obstructive leatherfaces with leaping strikes or eluding with acrobatics- whichever put him closer to the Phantom faster.  

[NativeForeigner]

Richard studied the transformation with mingled interest and disgust. As horrid as it was, it wasn't every day that people shattered and reconfigured themselves. He grunted and adjusted his grip on the Mk 19, waiting for the "weapons free" order to come from Eamon.

In the meantime, he pondered the abilities of these newly-created minions. There was no doubt in Richard's mind that their leather armor would be no match for any of his weapons, but had their vital organs been moved? Did they even have organs anymore? Were they somehow stronger, or more resilient? Where did the swords come from? Did they think individually or were they just drones?

To all but maybe the last, Richard could find no immediate answer. He knew from experience that his power didn't work on demons, he just couldn't touch their consciousness. Minions like this, however, he had never encountered. It was time to experiment.

Eamon just said to keep our weapons tight.

It would hardly be noticed, if it worked, anyway. Just one minion suddenly suffering from some form of insanity or another, or at least that's what Richard hoped. With a flick of his eyes, he caught sight of a swordsman not too far ahead of the van and gave it the Crazy Eye. If it was going to affect the swordsman, it would only take a matter of seconds. Anyone who happened to look at Richard's eyes during this time would find a feeling of deep discomfort building in their subconscious mind, as if the insanity he was attempting to implant was something they could sense.

Richard kept the Crazy Eye going for a short time, waiting to see a result.  

[Venom3001]

The Crazy Eye had little noticeable effect on the swordsman drone. It wasn't totally surprising - the person that had once been there was now replaced by the sub-sentient free spirit, an entity tied to the reality in ways with which not even the Crazy Eye could interfere.

Strings carved a flaming, bloody path, calling souls to him by separating them from their mortal coils, keeping his focus despite the sweet, succulent spirits he was taking.

Uso closed to the phantom, taking out a no-face-leather-having leatherface on the way. The black phantom backed up as Uso approached, keeping its blade readied to rebuff any attacks. Uso sensed two of the minions approaching from behind, and as they drew close the black phantom suddenly became notably more aggressive.

Right up until it saw an armored car with a roof-mounted grenade launcher power slide around a swordsman and Richard Bender spun the oversized weapon towards them, waiting, just waiting, for Eamon to give the "Weapons free."

Bloodstains began forming on the ground - a phenomenon reasonably familiar to Richard Bender but most certainly not familiar to any of the others present.  

[SirBayer]

Eamon kicked the door open and jumped out. It was a quirk of his, as a commander, that he couldn't actually stay inside the vehicle he was riding in - it always felt confining, and he'd seen one too many go down to feel any reasonable safety within it. His visibility was better from outside anyway; vehicles ever so slightly affected the perception of space, which meant it was better to direct from the ground anyway.

The situation was clear. One vehicle down (yeah, he wasn't going to stay in his), two on the ground still fighting. The major hostile was self-evident, given his large size and large sword - it could be a deception, but most demons weren't that... smart? Aware? It was hard to say. Either way, he had eyes on the big one and it was time to engage, before it got too nervous and backed off. They couldn't give it space to escape.

"Everyone, outside, now!" he shouted into the door. "Bender, stay on tha gun and get ready to engage the big one, but do NOT fire unless ye have a clear shot, I do not want ANY friendly fire! Doc, get closer to 'im but stay out o' range! Everyone else, keep the litt'l buggers away from the goddamn car! Weapons free, go go go!"  

[umbraja]

Rachel was gripping the wheel in white knuckled hands and staring wide eyed at the demon not far off when Eamon jumped out. She flinched at the sudden move and gave him an incredulous look for the rashness but didn't snap any snide remarks for the time being. These guys were the professionals. It wasn't her place to tell them how to do their jobs, despite a sinking fear in her gut on finally seeing a demon - live and in action.

When Eamon ordered the boys out Rachel nearly squeaked and glanced back at them, eyes lingering on Nathaniel and Niko. They would protect her, she reminded herself then gave Eamon a quick nod but hesitated to approach. It only lasted a moment, mostly to give the others a chance to bail out as per instructions, before she convinced herself it was ok. They were in an armored car after all and had the boys to keep those . . . things away. So she just readied herself to jump into the back in case anything got in while still staying behind the wheel, crawling closer to the action and ready to drive the car in a hasty retreat if it came to that.  

[Ivaylo_Sai]

With orders given to take out the minions Niko didn't have much need for his rifle so he set the big gun aside, in reach of Bender in case the man wanted to use it for some reason. He put down his ammo as well, also in reach so it might find some use. Then he tugged loose his tie, an awful bit of SOUL uniform he'd only been wearing because he'd just come from HR's scolding session. No civilians here that cold voice almost laughed in the back of his head as Niko watched the transformed masses with copper tinted eyes. Big times with the big boys. Time to let me out and play the voice hissed and Niko quickly though casually jerked open his shirt (a task made easy by it having snaps instead of buttons). He'd done this enough times to know shirts didn't survive his particular style of fighting and he let out his belt a few notches for good measure, the pants baggy enough to not rip so they could stay on.

Watching the strange old man with the cello take down a few of the minions, more specifically the souls released by it, made Niko lick his lips jealously as he pushed open the door, shrugging off his shirt in the same motion. “Time ta go to work,” the man almost purred as he tossed his shirt back inside and grinned at the others, something dark in his red eyes before he turned quickly and jumped out with a laughing howl.

It was no longer a man that charged toward the nearest of the minions. In a shimmer like fire his muscles had bulged, bones reformed, fur grown, and a savage beast taken the man's place. Resembling some sort of nightmare hybrid half human half wolf, the beast lunged with enchanted fangs and claws to ravage any that got near him.