(long post is loooong. . .)
The Zen Gardens probably would have been a peaceful, soothing kind of place on a normal day, Sid mused. To his right was a small body of water
-- a man-made pond, most likely -- that reflected the lazy rays of a sun that had just reached its peak. Lilypads and bright lotus flowers floated slowly across its calm blue surface. To his left were blooming cherry trees, their blossoms shedding pink petals that littered the grass beneath their boughs. Beyond these there was a dark rock formation and tidy sand garden that gave way to a large red archway and shadowy shrine-grove. Further down the road in front of him was a dirt path and wooden bridge that led to the Garden's inner-most sanctuary in the middle of the pond. Or would that have been called Nirvana instead of Sanctuary? It was a zen garden, after all.But, of course, this wasn't really a normal day. Or rather, it was that new kind of strange that Sid had grown accustomed to. He lowered the heavy minigun from its raised firing position near his waist, straightening his arms and releasing some of the tension out of his aching biceps and shoulders.
Beneath his feet were the broken pieces of several Kokeshi Dolls that had been riddled with bullets prior to falling apart. He kicked at one idly, watching as it fell in on itself and dissolved into energy particles before fading out of existence. Sid eased his grip on his weapon, focusing his attention on deactivating his ring. The minigun also began to fade until the weight and dull sheen of metal were nothing more than ghostly afterimages. He frowned then, brushing a few loose strands of purple hair out of his face and tucking them behind his ear.
The Zen Gardens had been overrun like so many other places he had seen in his brief travels. Was no place safe from the forces that brought the Animated to life? First the Village Greens around his hometown, then Rancher Bill's farm lands and the graveyard in Deadman's Pass. . . he had heard rumors abound about the problems facing Bassken Lake and Gold Beach, but had not made it that far north yet. Sid twisted the GGG ring on his left hand as his remaining eye flitted over the surroundings.
Rings, the only thing that could fight the Animated. . .they had been made by G-Corp, hadn't they? That must have meant that Gambino's men understood at least a little bit of what was going on; the rings gained power from the fallen Animated and their "charge orbs" Perhaps they were both operated on similar principles, and whatever powered the Rings also gave motion to the Animated?
A pale pink Fluff appeared from under a well-trimmed bush, interrupting his thoughts as it hopped menacingly closer to him. Sid's eye narrowed. If Gambino's G-Corp scientists had answers, that meant he had no choice but to go north after this. Regardless of that, though, first he had to deal with the monsters here. He readied his Rings for another fight.
(OOC: Just thought I would get the first post in, give a little more backstory to the situation, time, and current location. I had wanted to wait for a third profile to be sent in, but I guess we'll just have to start without them, eh, Toph? =D Hopefully, others will join in soon! Anyone can feel free to jump in, save the day, make commentary, or just lurk; I'll find you and your charrie if you don't find me.)
