{ MISSION ORP } Countdown to the End Part 1 - PAGE 6

[Zoobey]

Times Square 10:03 pm

Times Square was busy this evening, the traffic even more impossible to navigate around. There was a strange feeling, something that made his weapon shift uncomfortably in his mind-

- something was close by. A few other Hunters had also picked up the strange flux of Fear, several looking around, just as confused as the Death Faction lead. Liam took a few paces, stopping as he literally hit a dead end. A closed off subway station exit.

Wordlessly, he gestured for the others to follow, pushing his way through the chained off gate before closing the doors behind him. Only the glow of the Runic and Fear weapons permeated the subway system. There was a strange roar and then a screeching noise of metal against rusted metal: though the platform they stood on was abandoned, the trains still ran through the same tunnel system. The echoing screech of the train car pulling away in the distance shifted to a strange hissing noise: the Fear source.

"Search the unused routes first," Liam instructed, "If anything, they would want to hide the Artifact somewhere where it can be easily obscured."

The shadows seemed to ooze and shift around them, a subtle gesture, if not betrayed by the growing multiple Fear presences. They were waiting, and it was very obvious that he might have lead everyone into a trap.

OOC

- If you are a DEATH OR SUN HUNTER YOU ARE NOW HERE.
- Also these people are here as well:
Gabriela Sison *
Julio Perez *

 

[Zoobey]

(( OOC: In my time of dying...

Please read each following GM post carefully (the posts in the exclamation marks) and follow the rules. When you are ready to have your character die, as long as it is ICly available, please roleplay your character's death and their reactions as necessary before proceeding to their solo ))  

[Zyphiris]

And one by one, Dom watched as the rest of the hunters disappeared. An inaudible “Sir” escaped from his throat but the Sun hunter knew there was nothing left to do. It was true that in all the three years of serving under Ferdinand, Dom had mostly learned to fear his Division leader. Yet in this fleeting moment, he had come to realise that he had held him in great respect too.

Goodbye Sir Dom gave his leader a final salute. Perhaps they may meet again.

And to the Moon Division leader, Dom accorded a bow. They have never spoken to each other before, but he would never forget and always respect his strong leadership under which the two divisions worked together.

The pendant around his neck was activated and then he too would disappear.

- - -

Dom didn't know what his late exit had caused him to miss. It didn't matter either. Outside the portal he waited, but he knew that it had been too long. The Sun hunter couldn't quite bring himself to look at Liam, who carried Ferdinand's last words. But his orders ... he would abide.

<...>
...

Without a word, Dom embarked on one of the abandoned tracks, his weapon clutched tightly in each hand. Down the rabbit hole he went. This was the end, he knew.  

[medigel]

Division into divisions once more . . . It was naive of Zoey to want the whole gang together for even one part of the big mission, but a girl was entitled to her whims - it was one of the few possessions she could keep with a job like this. Her lips pursed as she followed Liam, not liking this at all. Had Ferdinand gone down for the cause so soon into the mission? What had happened with the FEAR hunters in that labyrinth? Had they just fought a Horseman, or one of their cronies?

Zoey heard the instructions, but she wanted to get her bearings for a moment. She had never been in a New York subway before, or even a human-world place remotely like it; her hometown had not been large enough to support the funds for a tram, let alone an underground one. The curved ceilings, the dim lights, the moving shadows . . . This was FEAR at work all right.

Shivering a little under her coat, she pressed the headset into her ear and quietly spoke, watching her breath fog upwards.

Trundlebug

Headset: You better pick up, Isaac . . . I swear to God if you don't p-pick up . . . I will cry. Come find me in front of the tracks so we can get going. Torch'll be on.

x_Nata_x

Headset: Standing just in front of the railway things, or whatever you call it. Tracks, grid. Get a move on, cowboy, and find my light.

And then she paused, considered, and changed the frequency to another she knew. Her face was drawn tight, trying her best to be more stable sounding than her message to Isaac.

Rabid Ice Weasel

Headset: Hey, you there . . .?

Finished, she pulled out her hand torch and cranked it on, producing a soft orange glow to reveal her position. The shadows seemed to dance even more because of it.  

[Carhop Cavalier]

Eight

 

[poke mattix]

Watching Lian close the doors to the subway system made Damien feel very uneasy. It was just a simple gesture, but watching their leader do so made him feel as if he was trapped. Trapped underground with no way out.

Not a good feeling.



"..." He didn't reply, choosing instead to remain silent and brooding as he follow The death division leader. He should of been following Ferdinand, but he had not returned with them from the portal.

He had a very good hunch as to why that was, and it only made him grip Celestine tighter.

He was going to take down some bastards today, he would make sure of it.  

[Huni Pi]

Guarding the portals had gone relatively smoothly until that last creature. And now it turns out the artifacts were missing? s**t. New orders, new instructions, and new groups were assigned. Gabriela found herself accompanying the Death and Sun Hunters along with Julio. No cause for concern there, they were both Mist Hunters and would act as substitute when necessary.

As such, she took her position beside Jamisson when they were instructed to search the tunnels, saying little else to him or to anyone on their headsets. If she were to wish anyone luck or to stay safe, it only felt like it would distract herself as well as the recipients. But it was starting to look more and more like their last mission so why not? It was brief and quick and Gabby promised if they survived this, she would never make a repeat performance.

Nearby movement caught her eye and she spotted a familiar-looking Sun Hunter (Damien). She gave him a quick nod to acknowledge his presence and maybe suggest he join them. Doesn't hurt to have someone built for offense with them, especially a FEAR Hunter.

Miliardo Kason

poke mattix

Dragain

Headset: Cathy, stay strong.

naggeela

Headset: Kid, stay on your toes.

Pepzilla

Headset: Dylan, all in the wrist, right?

 

[Eight]

Heidi felt..rather alone after the squads were separated. She'd watched Em and Julio part off with Velda and 'Henry' but she had to stay with her leader. A sad look was given to Liam, not because she had been separated from her friends but because..there were leaders who had not returned. Where were they? She didn't want to think about it. She felt like she had failed him even if the intel on this artifact hadn't come from her. She looked around uncomfortably as they walked through Times Square, biting down nervously on her lip. She didn't like this, it was almost unsettling being in a place this crowded. She preferred to be alone...or in small groups.

She loyally followed Liam into the subway station, giving her daggers an idle twirl in her hands. It was so dark, would it kill them to give this place a single flickering light like in the movies? Sigh. She actually jumped at the sounds from further inside the tunnel, gripping the handles of her daggers and looking ready to fight something off just in case. Nothing happened, though. Thank god. Her nerves were growing shot. But that hiss...

"Yes, sir." Heidi murmured in response to Liam's order, stepping away. She paused, tapping her headset.

Nio Love

Headset: Em? You and Julio be careful, okay? I expect to see both of you when this is over. We'll...relax and watch a movie or something, okay? Something not..work.

She smiled quietly at that promise, waiting for an answer from Em before shw switched over to another channel.

Blade Kuroda

Headset: Be careful, Julio. Okay? Um...a..after the mission I want to see you. Will you...er..ah..will you meet me at my room? I want to talk..

Okay that one was slightly more awkward. She blushed and cleared her throat, switching that channel off shortly before being approached by someone she had gotten to know quite well for a few minutes. Jared? Oh, he lived. Heidi turned a narrowed look toward him, illuminated only by her daggers' runic glow. He was a fear hunter...maybe it wouldn't be so bad. "...Are you going to surprise me again?" She asked suspiciously, glancing down at his weapon and sighing. "Fine, fine." She muttered, hopping down off the platform. "Come on."  

[poke mattix]

Damien had seen Gabriela approach, and when asked if he would join her he nodded. Knowing that she and her partner (Jamisson) were from different divisions, and not as specialized in fighting as he was, he would only be happy to assist them.

He only hoped he would be able to do so. The shadows around him were becoming more threatening, and it was hard to see in a place like this. They needed to hurry up and find the piece of the artifact, and hope against god this wasn't another trap.

Huni Pi

 

[Carhop Cavalier]

"Nope, nos surprises this time." He almost tacked on a 'unless you initiate it', but that wouldn't really help his cause. He was lucky enough to have her coming along in the first place. He laughed inwardly at her taking the lead, smiling as they went their merry way.

< Well, you're pretty happy for someone that could die at any second. >

'You're not so bad yourself, either. Looking forward to seeing me go?'

< More like looking forward to bashing in some skulls. You realize I have to do something once I'm awake. >

'Yup.'

"Say, Heidi, you ever held a Fear weapon before?" His tone was casual, not awkward what so ever. Okay, maybe a little. How did a man talk to a woman he randomly dip kissed?

< So you're using me as a conversation starter? >

'Shh.'

Eight

 

[Eight]

Heidi was quiet as she walked carefully along the edge of the tracks, keeping close to the wall. She was all for conversation but she was hesitant to do so with Jared. One, she didn't know him. Two, he didn't give her the best of first impressions. She wished she had a hand full to carry a flashlight, though! Damn it was dark in here!

At his question Heidi frowned and glanced back toward him, her face illuminated by the light of her daggers. "Um..." A look was given to his weapon. Interesting conversation starter... "Well, no. I've never held a fear weapon before...what's it like?" Heidi would be lying if she said she'd never been curious before.

Carhop Calvalier

 

[Miliardo Kason]

It was disturbing to know something was moving among these shadows, something, a horsemen that had been able to shrug off every single attack they threw at it. Worse yet it had one of those 'artifacts', and was now surely hiding in these tunnels waiting to strike.The only thing in the tunnel that was keeping everything together seemed to be Liam, that and his own personal anchor at the moment.

Gabby.

"I've got your back, you take point." No words of reassurance, no pet names, or even real ones, only orders and plans between him and Gabby. He turned with her nodding to Damien as well. He wasn't fond of FEAR hunters, but considering Ceicl wasn't here to be a snot nosed b*****d he would accept the help from another.

"Take a left here. This tunnel doesn't run many trains anymore. We should give it a check first." Carefully he unholstered Caine pointing past Gabby into the darkness. Carefully he reached into his bag pulling out a flashlight clicking it on. The results made things no better. The shadows seemed delayed, every time he pointed his light the shadows seemed to linger just a bit too long before moving away from the beam.

"Too much FEAR. Everything is being effected..." He glanced at Damien as he joined them proper. "If anything attacks form up, back to back. You two stay that way and I'll move to provide covering fire. Any idea if those shadows are.... one of them, or just an effect?"

Poke mattix

Huni Pi

 

[Baneful]

Dave had listened to his leader's words back at the exit portal with a sinking feeling of dread, three pieces. Three when just one was looking impossible. But..impossible was what they did he reminded himself, they took on insane odds and they kept the darkness at bay. He could only have faith they'd do it again.

And so the Suns were with them now too. He could only feel sorry for his comrades. Damned showboaters they may be, but they were still Deus Ex.

As they headed into the subway system, once again Dave was filled with the same sinking dread that he'd felt entering the labyrinth, that same lurking anxiety. But at least this time he wasn't alone, and he refused to end up as endlessly on his own as he had been in there. He gave Liam a nod and a salute of respect before turning to his friend.

"Lets go Jess. Two sets of eyes are better than one."

Riyoku

 

[Huni Pi]

Gabby gave a quick nod and followed up with a soft "Like always," at Jamisson's words. She'd already said all she would ever have thought necessary to the other Hunters. Anything else would risk her concentration. She needed her focus, needed to keep her mind on the goal. Find the artifact, disable it, do not engage a Horseman unless Liam or Ferdinand was with them. The gravity of this information weighed like a rock in her stomach and made her skin clammy.

She took a deep breath, blocking out the desire to run, ignoring the want to go back in time to that moment she and Jamisson shared in his room. She pushed the memories to the back of her mind, gripped her runic whip just a little tighter, and stayed close to their small group.

"I'll bring up the rear," she volunteered, gray eyes staring hard at Jamisson to state he wasn't going to be able to talk her out of it. It made more tactical sense to have the person with the flashlight lead and Damien the Fear Hunter near the front in case the artifact was being guarded. At the question about the shadows, Gabby murmured warily, "Whichever they are, best not to provoke them into taking action."

Miliardo Kason

Poke mattix