BZPB

-The Sunny Planet-

*USarge shakily stands back up again after the teleporting, only to be pulled away by Lee.

Recovering quickly he starts walking before he falls and starts looking around the city, after walking for a bit he stopped and pulled out the door-frame from a nearby wall. At Lee's questioning look all he said was*

US:"That person's not catching me off guard again..."

*He kept walking, now with the door following right next to him.*

-The Leviathan, Bio-Containment Hold 308-667-1-

*Osseron had moved the salvage into a secure location once the form had become clear. With all the revives everyone seemed to have (at least from what the rank-and-file veterans had gossiped to him), he could not be too careful!*


*Drones slowly popped the figure out of the slavage, while multiple stun turrets kept locked onto the figure, awaiting any hostile action*

*Osseron meanwhile was busy prepping the bio-reprocessing room linked to the containment room...*

[ Sunny, Earth-Like Planet: ]

Lee: Wow! This place is so neat!!

*As they draw close to the fountain, a figure becomes visible*

*Stood on the edge of the fountain, she has fair skin and dark hair done up in a ponytail; she also wears a loose bandana, and over her wide-sleeved shirt, a tooled leather vest painted on the chest with two concentric pink circles*

*For a while, her elegant movements seem to be a kind of dance*

*Then, as her tiny fists become apparent flowing through strikes, it can be seen that she's not dancing - She's practicing martial arts kata*

*Before Lee and USarge's eyes, she leaps nearly double her height in the air, flips, and lands effortlessly on the water-slicked stones*

*The two of them are unable to speak, before two soft bodies rub against their legs*

*A pair of cats mewl up at them - Both with ears oddly elongated out to the sides, one white with a black diamond mark on the forehead and matching paws, the other with exactly inverted color patterns*

*Turning to look at the two, the girl quirks her head to the side*

Lee: *Claps shortly* Wow, you're really good! What's your name?

???: *Smiles brightly* My name's Hanmyo! What's yours?

Lee: *Eyes narrow ever-so-slightly* I'm Lee! Nice to meet you!

Hanmyo: Nice to meet you too! *Hops off of the fountain, walking over*

*She looks up at USarge with that radiant smile*

Hanmyo: What's your name?

~ ~ ~

[ Hei Fon 5, Wreck: ]

*The group is heading back up the entry shaft*

Aisha: *Carrying the last crate, is followed closely by Darros*

*However, without warning, the entire shaft is pincered off*

Zev: Old Man!! *Stares out of the retreating shaft, at the crustacean that attacked*

Darros: *Over the comm* Don't you worry, lad. I can die without regrets, now.

Zev: *Grips the edges of the shaft as the others can dimly be heard arguing*

Darros: All I wanted was to see the treasure my crew had died, one by one, to get back. You know what it's like to have a dream. And besides - You kids can make much better use of the draconite than an old coot like me. Give Namah my rega - *Is cut off*

Zev: *Tears stream from eyes, as Yoruichi helps him back into the craft*

Aisha: *Is bawling so hard that she needs Yoruichi to take the controls from her*

*When the minicraft comes back, the group unsuits and enters, morose*

*They come in just on the very coattails of uproarious laughter*

Ryoko: ...Hahahahah! And then I told him "Give her yer own damn regards, I'm not putting up with Zev moping for a week!"

*At that, Zev and Aisha nearly trample each other in their rush to the bridge*

Yoruichi: ... *Just starts laughing, running in after them* Ryoko, this is why we all love you!

Darros: *Has abandoned helmet, just laughing with the rest*

*A wonderful time is had by all as they make it back to space*

*However, Namah approaches Hilda upon noticing her not laughing*

Hilda: ... *Whisper* ...I'm deciding when to tell them that half of the draconite is going to be worthless, after irradiating its Aether into the sea water.

Namah: *Smiles wryly* It wouldn't be fun without the irony.

Hilda: *Just chuckles, taking out a flask*

-The Sunny Planet-

*USarge smiles and offers his hand to shake*

US"Oh, feel free to call me Sarge. Are these guys yours?"

*He gestures to the two cats, before crouching down and trying to pet the white cat*

-Meanwhile, Inside the Door-

*The shadow does a 2x face palm combo as USarge gets distracted by the felines. A warrior demonstrates impressive acrobatics (for a third-dimensional being) and he focuses on the cats?!*

[ Sunny, Earthlike Planet: ]

Hanmyo: Oh! Yeah, these are my friends.

*She kneels down, and the two cats immediately run up her offered hands and arms*

*Perching on her shoulders, the white cat purrs as Hanmyo strokes its chin, and the black cat allows Lee to scratch behind its ears*

Hanmyo: The little boy with the white fur is Kenny, and the girl with the black fur is Matte! They've been with me ever since I can remember!

Lee: *Smiles oddly, almost a sad smile* I guess you guys are really close, huh?

Hanmyo: Trust me - You'd never believe how close we are!

Lee: *Her expression immediately brightens* I've seen a lot of crazy things. Try me.

Hanmyo: Would you believe me if I told you they speak to me? *Giggles*

Lee: *Laughs* Telepathy is what you thought I wouldn't believe? Take a gander at this!!

*Her halo flickers to life, and she proceeds to disappear in a flicker*

*She reappears balanced effortlessly in the very top of a tree*

*Leaping high, high into the air, she does a rapid series of rolls on descent*

*Upon landing, she sticks it perfectly on her feet - Leaving two big pawprints in the dirt*

Hanmyo: *Applauds, now that it's her turn to be impressed* Incredible!

Lee: *Bows exaggeratedly* Thank you, thank you! I do weddings and birthdays, with Galestorm as the strongman in my act! Sarge, you can be the dogtamer! *Cackles*

Hanmyo: *Smiles up at USarge* I'm guessing the door isn't for..."Dogtaming?"

*With a crackle, a hand appears to slap a giggling Lee upside the head*

Hanmyo: *Giggles* You're an interesting bunch!

-Sunny Planet-

*USarge smiles and shakes his head*

US:"Nope, but you can do neat things with it. Normally I'd hate to show off....but this once I guess."

*USarge pulled out his puppet from the door, and activated it. Grabbing the door frames, USarge and his puppet started walking in opposite ways, pulling out copies of the door from the space that the door was occupying.

He and the puppet began warping around, planting down the copies in every which way, some on the walls, some on the floors, others floating in the air at random angles, and even a tiny one on a nearby observers chest!

warping back to the group, he reached for the 'real' door and put it under the water, folding in the edges in order to get it to fit all the way.*

US: "Mine's nowhere near as impressive as Lee's display...but here's a go at it."

*He kicks open the door in the fountain, and suddenlt all the other doors open up and start releasing streams. However, instead of the expected mess, the streams start flowing against gravity and logic, flowing back into the fountain after traveling around the plaza.

USarge meanwhile starts walking in the air, sometimes adjusting a stream, or moving a door.*

US: *appearing back near the group, holding the mini-door that used to be on the observer's chest* "Well, that's my trick. Takes abit of preperation but that's how I roll!"

*With a clap all the doors shut and phase into nothing, the streams finishing their course back to the fountain.

The Door meanwhile flips out of the nearby floor, with one corner still dogeared abit.*

[ Sunny, Earthlike Planet: ]

Hanmyo: Oooh! You're quite talented!

Lee: *Notices a certain someone staring down at her digital camera* Tried to take a photo?

Mamimi: Yup.

Lee: Couldn't even capture it on your film?

Mamimi: Nope.

Lee: ...Double~ rainbow~ all the way~ across~ the sky~

Mamimi: ...Yeah~ ye~e~e~eah...

Lee: Double~ rainbow~ all the way~ across~ the sky!

Mamimi: Wah~ wah~ oh~ my God... *Walks over to Lee*

*She wraps her arm around Lee's shoulders*

Mamimi: Chiizu. *Snaps a photo of the two smiling*

Hanmyo: May I show you...Three, I suppose, to where I'm staying? It's not too impressive, but it's one of the quietest spots on Symka 3.

Mamimi: Yeeeah, Symka 3 is kinda boring, in a good way. Sometimes, it can be nice to just go with the flow. Let your feet dangle in the river, let the weeds tickle your legs, and not worry about things. There's literally nothing to be gained by anyone from attacking Symka 3.

Hanmyo: My, you have this place figured out! *Smiles, turning to USarge and Lee*

Lee: Well, I'd love to see where you stay! Shall we, Sarge?

*She smiles over at the User*

-Symka 3(?)-

*USarge nodded his agreement, and put the puppet away*

US:"Sure, I'd be happy to go to your home as well!"

[ Symka 3: ]

Hanmyo: Alright! Let's go!

*She leads the group away from the nearby city*

Lee: ... *Keeps close to USarge* ...

Mamimi: *Trails along behind*

~ ~ ~

[ Hei Fon ???: ]

*The setting is a sunny field*

*Soaking up some Vitamin D is a certain Ctarl-Ctarl*

Aisha: *Stretches languidly* Aaah~! Aisha has needed a nice day in the sun!

Zev: *Meditates quietly atop a nearby rock, a smile on face*

Namah: *Reads a book in the shade of a tree*

---

[ Hei Fon ???, Spaceship Dock: ]

*The Desperado is being repaired from its encounter with the crustaceans*

*Meanwhile, Yoruichi, Ryoko, and Hilda sip some sake from the lounge*

Yoruichi: ...Are you sure we shouldn't be worried for Zev? Hei Fon 4 is the perfect place for Suzuka to attack him. He won't be able to call up a lot of qi here.

Ryoko: *Sighs into her bottle* Even I'm worried. I could feel that snake Tobigera's aura, his and all of his goons, all the way from the ship when we were back there. I couldn't even tell where they were in the city...Their malice blanketed the whole area.

Hilda: I'm not saying we shouldn't be cautious - But there's a difference between cautious and fretful. Even if it won't last us too long, with how we roll, we got 500,000 wong from selling the draconite, and Fred Luo lined up a refinery that'll ship a portion of the finished product to a location of our choosing to be picked up when we're ready.

Yoruichi: No offense, Hilda, but how will that kind of money help us in the long run? We won't be able to feed our crew for longer than half-a-year on that kind of dough.

Hilda: Which is exactly why I had Fred Luo buy us a warehouse. It'll cost 25,000 wong to pay him back for it. That leaves 475,000 for us to buy equipment and set up shop for a little business venture.

Ryoko: ... *Siiigh* Much as I'd love to stop running around for a little bit, don't you think that's just inviting trouble? I don't think thar we'll avoid this "Twilight" woman by sitting still and drawing a lot of attention with a store.

Hilda: *Smiles mischeivously* Now when did I ever say I intended to avoid Twilight Suzuka? Trust me - No one escapes her for too long, anyhow.

Yoruichi: ... *Smirk* You're intending to make her bring the fight to us. In a store where we can select the security system, practically down the street from Fred Luo and his security-military conglomerate's headquarters.

Ryoko: ... *Gains a wide grin of her own* And between the lot of us, she'd never be able to sneak up on Zev unawares. *Cackle* I like the way you think, Hot Ice!!

Hilda: It's been my experience that, when chased by a bounty hunter, the best offense is a good defense.

*The trio raise their respective drinking vessels quietly*

*They begin talking again*

-Symka 3-

*As the group travels along, USarge notices Lee's quietness, he leans in and asks*

US: *quietly* "You okay? You seem kinda quiet all of a sudden..."

*He looks at Lee carefully, trying to gauge her mood*

[ Symka 3: ]

Lee: Oh. It's nothing. *Smiles brightly*

Mamimi: *Looks back and forth between the two curiously*

*Soon enough, they arrive at Hanmyo's apparent dwelling near a small mountain*

*It appears to be a dojo, with miniature guardian lions outside on the front porch and an oversized koi statue on each corner of the roof, every one carrying a carved crystal sphere on the dip in its back*

*Outside is a large pond, in which swim a number of speckled koi*

Hanmyo: Well, here's my humble abode! *Giggle*

Lee: This place is really, really nice, Hanmyo!

Mamimi: I wish I lived here. *Snaps a photo*

Hanmyo: What do you think, Sarge?

---

[ Hei Fon 4, In Town: ]

*Zev, Hilda, Namah, and Melfina are heading by car towards the center of town*

Zev: Eeeuuugh. Was I really needed for this little adventure? I don't think I need to be here for any kind of discussion with Fred.

Hilda: *Driving* C'mon, you big baby. Suck it up. He's a master negotiator, and I need him to pay for our warehouse's docking fees if we want to earn enough wong. You're our secret weapon in this negotiation.

Namah: I do not want to know why Zev is our secret weapon. I'm just gonna sit back and watch the show.

Zev: *Looks like he's going to be carsick* Trust me. It'll be like a regular cabaret affair.

Melfina: Does Mr. Luo not like Mr. Raregroove? *Ducks head down slightly*

Hilda: It's kind of the opposite problem. And relax. You're fine, Melfina.

Melfina: ... *Smiles softly* Thank you, Hilda.

-Symka 3-


*USarge smiled at the sight of the building, looking it over before replying*

US: "Really impressive! much cooler than my home at least!"

*He keeps a subtle eye on Lee, still curious as to what could bring her down.*

[ Symka 3: ]

Lee: We should probably head into town, see if we can meet up with Jade. I'm getting a serious migraine that sounds like it rides a Vespa that we should head to Cafe Bleu.

Mamimi: You should come with us, Hanmyo. I'm sure Haruko and Jim would love to meet you.

Hanmyo: Well, I prefer not to head into town. Big cities kinda get me down. I'll head into town to get my ship, eventually, but for now, I'll stay out here.

Mamimi: Well then, I'll try to bring Jim out here. No way I can force Haruko to go somewhere on my own. She'll get out here eventually.

Lee: *Seems oddly fine with this* You wanna go back into town, Sarge? Or stay here with Hanmyo for the time being? That would actually probably be best; I'll make it into the city and back in no time. That fine by you?

*She bounces from foot to foot, seeming to be building up energy*

Mamimi: *Is already strolling away*

~ ~ ~

[ Hei Fon 4: ]

*The group has entered a large, well-guarded complex*

*On the walls are large paintings, all with certain similar features*

*At last, the group is escorted into a spacious, luxurious lounge by a group of toughlooking, solemn guards in suits*

*In this room, instead of paintings, all four walls are covered by mounted racks*

*Every rack has a sword or a set of armor or a military weapon of somekind*

*Through a half-closed door, a desk covered in machine parts can be seen*

Hilda: *Sits with Namah and Melfina on the couch* Melfina, don't worry. Fred is the nicest guy, and he won't do a thing to hurt you. Or Zev. *Smirks*

Zev: Yeah yeah keep yuckin' it up... *Grumble-Grumble-Grumble* ... *Keeps crossing and uncrossing legs, a picture of extreme nervousness*

*At last, a tall young man with fair skin, jawlength, dark hair, and a crimson headband, dressed in a long coat with a bulky collar, has entered*

Zev: *Stands up quick as a flash* Hey Fred! Great to see ya, I'll let Hilda - Oomph. *Has had breath knocked out of him*

Fred Luo: *Has Zev in a Full-Nelson kind of hug* Zev, Zev, Zev! Do you know how long it's been? Ten years! You're a picture of health, though, hahahah!

Namah: *Mutters* He's not gonna be if that guy doesn't let 'im breathe soon...

Fred: I mean honestly! You never call, you never write! You could give me the impression that you don't want to see me!

Zev: *Turns red, white, green, blue, purple with yellow polka dots, then plaid, before the spiral eyes hit and he goes limp*

Hilda: Alright, Fred. You can stop greeting Zev now. He's not going to survive another minute of greeting.

Fred: Oh, very well, Hilda. *Lets Zev go* I have something to discuss with you all anyhow, and I'm just delighted you could make it beforehand!

Zev: *Falls back into chair, eyes rolled back in head, face ashen*

Hilda: Well, I'll be upfront with you, Fred. We need you to pay our docking fees. We'll probably be shipping out in a month at the most, and the docking fees amount to roughly 30,000 wong a week.

Fred: Oh, that'll be fine! I'll have all the cash you need funneled in as the payment times come up! No sweat!

Hilda: ...Fred, whenever it's this easy, you want something from us. Spill.

Fred: Oooh I can't hide anything from you! I'm afraid I need you to act as bodyguards. It seems a bounty was placed on me and I need a bit of protection.

Zev: *Raises arm, wheezing* We are...At your...Service...My...Good man...

Namah: Zev you nearly died don't give yourself a hernia.

Melfina: *Just giggles softly at the antics around her*

-Symka 3-

*USarge nodds, but reaches into pocket and pulls out a mini-door and offers it to Lee*

US: "Yeah, go ahead, I've never really been through this area, so I don't have too many markers out there... Just stick this onto a wall once your in town, okay?"

*He holds out the mini-door*

<Battle of Shinobi-Nui>

Orion: Agh!

*he teleports away*


*another Knight appears behind Xeno*

Mafre: Hello.

*Mafre creates a hand made of light, then uses it to fling Xeno at the Cabana's shield*


*the aircraft concentrate their fire on the Kardas*

-----

<Malchior IV, frigate>

*SB hits the sentry with his Gunslinger, removing the Sapper*

*he then shape-shifts into a Pyro, and shoots fire at both the Rahns*

*only one of the Rahns is set on fire: the other is the real Rahn*

*SB then shape-shifts back into an Engineer*

-----

<Charlestown, Boston>

*Aster and Rainn suddenly run into some FBI agents*

Agent: Stop! You can't go here!

Aster: Yes, we can!

Agent: Do you think you're being clever?

Aster: Yes. And no.

*she turns to Rainn*

Aster: *quietly* Help me out here.....

-----

<Harbinger crash site>

*the Vrai Spy suddenly hits a button on his watch, and the watch begins flashing*

Abeloth: He's activated the self-destruct! RUN!

-----

<Demon's Run>

*a guard comes in, gives D-Klak a lozenge, and leaves the cell, closing the door behind him*

-----

<F-Blackout's throne room>

F-Blackout: Interesting. Perhaps I must meddle in the past more.....

*Xeno is blasted into the shield, which lowers just nano-seconds to late, Sasuken Catches him and takes him inside*

Ynot: Hey, Blade, you know what I'm thinking?

Blade: No, Ynot, what are you thinking?

Ynot: I'm thinking it's about time we showed these posers what a little Energized Protodermis can do.

Blade: Well thought, Ynot, shall we?

*Ynot unleashes a wave of Liquid Protodermis on to the remaining soldiers, and it's quickly met with Terrawatts of electricity being poured into it*

*the other soldiers run away*

Rahn: "It seems that they were outclassed. I-oof *bumps into a chair that wasn't there before*".

*the chair moves a bit*

---

Rainn: "Of course not yes. We are not while being clever using mental techniques to not confuse you to not let us in to confuse not you yet others yet one runner man in unladen swallow zulu foxtrot try to keep your arm on the line while I fell in love again and I want to tell all of my friends, it just happened. Of course this distraction is not distracting while yes and no walk into this place you are guarding and not guarding while zulu foxtrot gets its way with your mother."

---

*Airachnid frowns, and stabs the Vrai several times with her claw before burrowing underground away from the explosion*

---

*D-Klak eats the lozenge*

---

*Raziel appears behind F-Blackout*

Raziel: "And why would you do that?"

---

*suddenly, the minerals Osseron are harvesting reveal themselves to be an actual being trapped inside of Omega Supreme's rubble*

---

*Figlio arrives in Ailyb-Gypte*

*the area of the planet seems slightly war ravaged, but several soldiers are keeping the order*

*they seem to be allied with Ra, meaning that the being has retaken most of his planet*

Figlio: "I hope there is a remaining Osirian."


OOS: Hope I'm not missing anyone

[ Symka 3: ]

Lee: Will do! Thanks!! *Grabs the door*

*Halo blazing to life, she disappears in a blue blur towards town*

Hanmyo: She's quite fast, isn't she? *Stares after her for a while*

*She then looks up to USarge, smiling brightly*

Hanmyo: Wanna see inside?

~ ~ ~

[ Hei Fon 4, The Group's Warehouse: ]

Melfina: *Has arrived back carrying groceries*

*As a couple of monkey-like humanoids carry her bags into the ship - One female with purple hair and tail, the other male with a golden-tufted tail and a wild, lion-like mane - She takes a moment to look the place over*

*Most of the warehouse is dominated by the docking area for the ship, presently containing the Desperado on a set of rails and mechanical arms*

*Immediately next to it are a group of furnishings - A couch, table, and some tatami mats around a couple of tables; as well as a videophone station beside a desk, on the other side of which is a large, boxy TV set - And a set of metal stairs leading up to a platform with a few beds, both alongside massive floor-to-ceiling windows*

*Beside the entrance is a small counter, as well as a set of four-level metal shelves*

Melfina: *Begins setting the shelves with small gadgets and doodads* Mr. Luo was very nice. He sent his guards to escort me and our car back here, and even gave me some little starters for our stock! He seems to really like Zev. *Giggle*

Aisha: That's nice. *Is watching TV on a small, handheld device; it appears to be Panty & Stocking w/ Garterbelt* Terrans come up with the craziest television, but I have to be honest, I love these shows. *Kicks legs back and forth as she lays on her back, on the couch*

*Meanwhile, a girl who resembles an anthropomorphic lynx - With blue eyes, straight, jawlength and ginger red hair, as well as matching ear-tufts and spots - Appears to be crunching numbers on a PDA*

Yoruichi: *Puts a crate down in the corner, pats hands off, and walks over* You found out how our meal schedule will pan out after Fred Luo handles the docking fees, Pammie?

Pammie: Hmmm. *Punches a final command and watches a moment* ...Alrighty! If we handle this right with our present supplies, then even with our resident Ctarl-Ctarl and her champion's appetite, we shouldn't be forced to buy any new supplies for two and-a-half weeks! We'll have to stick around for a few more months to pay off our debts.

Pammie: Even with all the money from the draconite haul, if we want to be smart about handling our debts, we'll need to stay put for around four months. As much as I'd hate for Zev to run into that "Twilight" woman, it would be for the best, in the long run.

Yoruichi: Glad to hear you've got things under control! *Looks over shoulder at Aisha*

Aisha: *Too engrossed with show on handheld to care*

Melfina: At least she knows what she likes!

Aisha: Huh? You say something?

Melfina: *Giggle* No, nothing at all!.

Aisha: Hm. *Hasn't looked up*

---

[ Fred Luo's Compound: ]

*All morning, Fred has been pacing back and forth in his office*

Hilda: *Carefully holds a red caster shell, her gun trained on the door* Relax, Fred. What's got you so worried about this bounty hunter above the rest?

---

*Outside, Zev and Namah watch the far door*

Zev: *Has zanpakuto summoned and drawn* Whoever this @sshole is, just make sure you don't kill them. We need to find out why the Fon Pirates arranged all of this.

Namah: *The faintest hint of a halo wavers above head* I'd love to know what's got that bunch so rowdy as of late.

---

Fred: Well, let's just say she's fairly infamous. And we're two minutes away from when she's guaranteed to attack, if she's going to. I've been like this every day since I found out, I apologize if I'm breaking your concentration.

Hilda: ...She. *Looks up at the clock, seeing the time* ...Crap.

Time: 11:43:00

---

Zev & Namah: *Wait it out*

*They abruptly hear the sounds of shouts outside*

Time: 11:44:33

---

Hilda: Fred, I think you need to know something about recent events surrounding Zev.

Fred: Oh no! Is he spoken for!?

Hilda: Kind of but the point is -

---

Time: 11:45:00

*Without warning, a massive blow to the steel doors causes their hinges to fragment*

*As Zev and Namah look back and forth between the shallow crater where the door impacted into the wall and the open, dust-filled doorway where it parted ways with its frame*

*There, a damningly familiar figure - With ponytail, robes, and some kind of sword - Becomes visible*

Zev: ...Yare yare daze. *Immediately activates shikai, face going pale and sick*

Namah: *Halo fully ignites* Stay calm, Zev. We'll make it out fine.

Suzuka: I beg to differ, horned child. *Swings bokuto abruptly*

*The sheer blast of wind knocks Zev into the wall*

Namah: Not my boyfriend you BITCH!!

*Her Ether Tendrils successfully wrap around Suzuka's ankle as the woman dodges*

*Spinning around, Namah throws Suzuka into the far wall*

Suzuka: *Is immediately back on feet - Just in time to dodge an explosion*

Zev: *Throws down the spent missile tube* Thank God this place is fireproof.

*With a flicker of speed, his and Suzuka's strikes clash in mid-air*

*They jet away, then meet again atop a table*

Zev: *Lands on the couch, backflipping over*

*The cushions are torn to shreds by the next shockwave*

*His leg crackles as he hauls off and kicks the couch*

*Its entire mass is punted towards Suzuka*

Suzuka: *Swings bokuto downward, unleashing a shockwave that cleaves straight through the cloth, stuffing, wood, and metal*

*At that, she and Zev stare each other down*

Namah: *Prepares to strike when open*

~OOC:For those who missed it (stares at klak)~

Srgt. Master wrote:
-The Leviathan, Bio-Containment Hold 308-667-1-

*Osseron had moved the salvage into a secure location once the form had become clear. With all the revives everyone seemed to have (at least from what the rank-and-file veterans had gossiped to him), he could not be too careful!*


*Drones slowly popped the figure out of the slavage, while multiple stun turrets kept locked onto the figure, awaiting any hostile action*

*Osseron meanwhile was busy prepping the bio-reprocessing room linked to the containment room...*

-Symka 3-

USarge: "Yes she can... *stares after the blur for awhile as well* "

*Once invited to the inside, he smiles, nods and does a gentlemanly "after you" gesture*

US:" Yes, it'd be a pleasure! After you!"

*He looks at the house again, more-than-slightly impressed at the building.*

OOS: SORRY XD Didn't notice. Nice lampshade hanging there though.

*the figure breaks free from the remaining salvage, and walks out*

*he stares at the drones*

*the stun turrets are pointed at him, and he silently looks at them*

???: Where....where am I?

[ Symka 3: ]

Hanmyo: *Giggles* So polite!

*She slides open the screen doors, leading USarge in*

*The doors automatically close themselves, although the room is very dim*

*However, Hanmyo turns a dial on the wall, then presses it in*

*The section of panels forming the right-hand wall slide apart, until the middle three-fifths have parted to let the sun shine in*

*The rest of the walls are painted with a mural of several mountains and battle scenes*

*In a set of alcoves stand narrow wire tables, atop which are placed ikebana flower arrangements*

*Hanging from the ceiling are a pair of sandbags, and a large, upright wooden cylinder with many wooden rods jutting out stands off to the side*

*Meanwhile, in the far left corner is a floor-level mattress, a ways away is a low table surrounded by tatami mats*

Hanmyo: How does it look?

~ ~ ~

[ Hei Fon 4, Fred Luo's Compound: ]

*The next clash between Suzuka and Zev send both rocketing away*

*With a series of rapid rolls, both land against the walls, and kick off at high speed*

*Soaring towards each other, they graze each other and go twirling away to land easily on their feet*

Zev: *Notes the cut on forehead, and calmly licks the trickling blood off cheek* Huh. It's been a while since someone nicked me.

Suzuka: *As a similar cut above eye trickles downwards, turns bokuto around* ... *Starts to twist on the very bottom of its grip*

*Unscrewing the end of the hilt, she pulls out a small, stiff brush*

*Dabbing out a pale beige-pink salve, she paints it across her wound*

*As she removes a soft cloth from her robes and wipes her face clean, her bleeding has stopped*

Zev: Heh. Clever girl. *Instantly steps back as Suzuka appears before him*

Suzuka: *Holds out brush, dabbed once more with salve* Don't let pride rule you. I want our battle to be decided sheerly on our own merits.

Zev: Thaaank you. *Takes the brush without hesitation, then the cloth it is followed by*

*As he treats himself, Suzuka coldly appraises him with a sharp eye*

Suzuka: I have a taste for sake. Do you, First Prince Zev Raregroove?

Zev: *Hands the brush and cloth back* As a matter of fact, yes. *Backs up*

Suzuka: *Backs up as well* There's a saying I picked up among who you know as the Eleventh Division.

Zev: I think I know how this will go, and I've been yearning to shout this for quiiite a while.

Both Together: The one who wins gets to sit tight! The loser has to get the drinks! If you hold back, I'll kill you in a heartbeat!!

*In the next instant, they've met with a strike so powerful that, due to the shockwave of displaced air, all of the furniture is blown clear into the walls*

Namah: *Lowers arm from over eyes, scowling* Damn proud warriors and their bluster. Good thing these two can back it up.

*Plopping down on the floor, she folds her legs, wraps her tail around herself, and watches*

Namah: ...I'm never going to hear the end of letting "boyfriend" slip.

*Facepalm 2x Combo*

-Leviathan's Bio-Containment Bay-

*The drones pull away from the being, walking around him and continuing to disassemble and categorize the salvage on a variety of trays.

The door leading to the reprocessing chamber opens and Osseron walks out, his Omnician Axe held at his side and the optical mechandrite steadily looking at him. Osseron meanwhile simply looks at the being, his various eye-lens clicking as they shifted through various frequencies.

After a while he speaks*

Osseron: "You are currently in a Bio-Containment lab aboard my Titan-class ship.

YOU are lucky you were tough enough to survive not only the explosion of Omega Supreme, but also to survive the slight case of "Embedding entire body in semi-molten metal" that you went through.

I am curious as to who and what you are. Care to indulge?"

-Symka 3-

*USarge takes a moment to walk around and appreciate the mural before turning back to Hanmyo*

US: "It's very nice, all of it I mean, not just the mural. You can also tell you devote a lot of time to your skills too. Too bad I don't have that much dedication with my swordsmanship."

<Battle of Shinobi-Nui>

*the Knights teleport up to the ships, and the ships move upwards, avoiding the wave entirely*

*the Rahi are left to their fate*

*suddenly, the protodermis wave begins to assume an almost.....humanoid shape*

-----

<Malchior IV, frigate>

SB: Okay then. Let's move. We've got plenty of ships to go.

*he disassembles his turret and dispenser and runs away*

-----

<Charlestown, Boston>

Agent: *looks confused for a moment* Please go away.

*he walks away, only for Aster to shoot him in the back with a stun gun*

-----

<Harbinger crash site>

*the Vrai explodes, taking out the nearest wall as well*

*the explosion reveals a hidden door*

-----

<F-Blackout's throne room>

*several mooks suddenly appear and restrain Raziel*

F-Blackout: Because it will help me accomplish my mission.

-----

<Ailyb-Gypte>

Turel: That will be simple to discover.

*he grabs a random soldier, disarms him and holds a gun to his head*

Turel: You! Who do you work for?

-----

*the being rubs his eyes and sees who Osseron is*

???: Wait a second...I remember you! We fought together in the Uterio War! Osseron! It's me, Klak! Remember, the Makuta General? Thank you so much for rescuing me...

Me: *coughs* Omega Supreme exploded? What happened?

---

*Rahn calls at SB*

Rahn: "Grunt, the frigates are right here. Where are you going?"

*puts a bomb on a nearby frigate*

*the chair moves again by itself*

---

Rainn: ":notbad: Worked better than I had expected. Excellent, Aster. Let's go. *he continues walking*"

---

*Airachnid gets back, and sees the door*

*she opens it*

---

Raziel: "Bending the universe to your very whim? How cliche. *he goes into a spirit form, and slips away from the guards* You are lucky I do not hunger for souls."


*Raziel then disappears*

---

*Figlio facepalms*

*the soldier panics*

Soldier: "R-r-Ra! Ra!"

Figlio: "Thank you. Go tell Ra that a kin of the Generalissimo is here."

*the soldier salutes, then runs away*

Figlio: "Really, Turel? Really?"

---

*the being of Korasa steps out of the cave, mumbling to itself*

OOS: Hope I'm not missing anyone.

[ Symka 3: ]

Hanmyo: Oh. Don't be too hard on yourself! The first step to improving one's skills is realizing there's never an end to learning! That's what Shimi always taught me.

*Her cat Kenny leans towards her, staring intently at her from his spot on the floor*

Hanmyo: Oh, Kenny, relax! Lee may have heard of Shimi, but Sarge hasn't! ... I know it's all going to be a big mess if I'm not careful, I know. ... Look, I don't want to spend every brief excused leave of service fretting over this kind of thing! ... If Sarge wants to know, I'll just be honest. ... Yes I'm sure that would be best!

*It's only then that she realizes she's been arguing with Kenny and leaving USarge out of the loop the entire time*

Hanmyo: I...Guess that you want to know what all of that was about? And, I guess why Lee was so dodgy around me? *Rubs the back of head awkwardly* I really shouldn't have used that name...

*She looks at USarge with a sigh, dark eyebrows furrowing*

Hanmyo: If you're curious, I'll tell you. But I can't tell you too easily. I'll get in trouble.

*Her eye flickers over to Kenny and Matte*

*Back to USarge she looks*

~ ~ ~

[ Hei Fon 4, Fred Luo's Compound: ]

*Nearly the entire room has been decimated*

*As Suzuka approaches once again, Zev stomps down on the end of the table*

*Flipping vertically, it's easily slashed in half by the next airwave*

*The gust retains enough power to send Zev @ss-over-teakettle across the room*

*Landing on his feet, he contemplates the kanbo in his hands*

Suzuka: Have you realized that you, whose weapon supersedes his technique's potency, cannot defeat I, whose technique transcends her weapon's boundaries?

Zev: I'll tell you what I told Roxas before: I apologize for disrespecting you.

*With a ripple, his aura - Pale aquamarine - Becomes visible*

Zev: It is the utmost insult between warriors to hold back. By all rights, I should be dead via our oath just minutes ago.

*A series of low pulses fill the room and break against Suzuka and Namah*

Zev: I am thankful to you as a warrior, and for everything you have given me. From now on, you will see nothing but my all.

*His aura sparks with flailing streamers of energy, as his shikai screams, then roars, then erupts with smoke*

Zev: Raise your voice in joy, Utahime Dai Kirin.

*When the sparks and smoke cloud fade, what can be seen is a plated metal glove that goes up to his elbow, with a teardrop-shaped dagger blade on the back extending two more winglike blades to the sides*

Zev: Do you know why I named the second phase of my shikai "songbird?" *Smiles and brings fist back*

Suzuka: *Immediately swings bokuto towards floor before her with all of her might*

Zev: *Throws punch, launching the blade on the back of his gauntlet's hand*

*It unleashes a shrill, screaming "song" and a blinding flash of light*

*However, after it zig-zags back to land on Zev's fist, the results can be seen*

Suzuka: *Her swordstrike has thrown the discarded half of the table into the air, leaving only a smoldering table leg on the floor*

*As she looks off to the side, Zev and Namah note that she's viewing a clock*

*In the next moment, the clock gives a loud tone - Noon*

Suzuka: *Lowers bokuto* You have won for now, First Prince Zev Raregroove.

Zev: *Instantly reverts shikai to first stage, then seals it again* How so?

Suzuka: It is noon. Expect me tomorrow at the same time.

*She calmly walks out of the open doorway*

Zev: *Dismisses zanpakuto* ... *Siiigh*

Namah: *Scratches head in befuddlement*

Zev: ...Boyfriend, huh?

Namah: Oh shut up.

Ynot: Oh bullox, not again...

Blade: What? What's going on?

Ynot: Oh, right, you weren't there. Remember when I defected from Blackout initially?

Blade: Um..sure?

Ynot: Well, at that time, there was a creature that Hunted down all those not affiliated with the Brotherhood. I assumed it was defeated while I wasn't looking as I never saw it again.

Blade: This that creature?

Ynot: Yep, meet the Energized Protodermis Entity. I suggest we run.

Blade: That bad, huh?

Ynot: Well, we have both been transformed once, you want to roll the dice and find out if we can go for double?

Blade: Good point.

*They both start running*

-Symka 3-

*USarge looks at the two before shrugging and looking over at the cats before turning back to Hanmyo.*

US: "Yeah, I was just abit curious to be honest...also if your worried about keeping secrets, you can trust me. I've only blown one person's secret so far...and that was to stop said person from killing me dead."

*He looks awkwardly in the door's general direction before turning back to Hanmyo, waiting for the story*

-The Leviathan-

*Osseron tilts his head for a minute, muttering "Klak...hmmmm" before looking back to the makuta*

Osseron: "Yeah I Half-Sorta-Kinda-Not-Really-At-All Remember you! Anywho, yes Omega Supreme got hit in his poor little heart by that other metallic Makuta or something like that. I was too busy wipping out that colony to care, really. Oh well, at least I more-or-less succeeded in my job, and got some half-decent salvage."

*He walks past Klak and pokes around The salvage piles, a burst of binary chatter commanding the drones to pull the remainder of the salvage into the normal analysis bay*

Osseron: "Oh and you might want to check your bits, I pulled out some samples before realizing you were you and not some exotic matter..." *he points to the table where some small samples lay under scanners*

*Klak sees some of his...'antidermis' escaping, and quickly rushes over and grabs some of the samples*

*all the antidermis returns, and is sealed by his healing power*

Me: My species have the nasty habit of healing themselves. It's what makes us so hard to kill, hence why everyone thinks we come back from death.

*Klak sees a lampshade on the floor, and hangs it where it belongs*

Me: I would love to stay and talk, catch up over....whatever it is your species drinks, but I have to search for something. And now since everyone probably thinks I'm dead.....again....it'd be perfect. Do you know of any potential drop out points?

*User MK is slapped by a French fish named Deja Vu*

[ Symka 3: ]

Hanmyo: Well...One of your friends...Might have been looking for a member of the Anten Seven on this planet? An assassin whose particular expertise among the group lies in grappler ship combat using cats?

*She gains an awkward grimace, face starting to heat up*

Hanmyo: ...You found her...

Kenny & Matte: *Shake their heads*

Hanmyo: *Twiddles thumbs*

~ ~ ~

[ Hei Fon 4, Fred Luo's Compound: ]

*The group is trying to leave*

*However, someone is being difficult, and it's not Hilda, Namah...Or Zev*

Fred: *Hangs off of Zev, arms around his waist* Good God, Zev!! That woman took my entire lounge apart in her fight with you!! I need you to stay here and protect me!!

Zev: *Tries to shove him away with both hands* C'mon! Hilda offered to stay here and protect you! She's got a lot more experience with guarding bodies than me!!

Fred: No no no no no~! It has to be you!! *Looks on the verge of a nervous breakdown*

Zev: *Sighs raggedly, and begins hauling him back in* Okay, Fred. You're upset. If we get a drink at the local dive we used to hang out at, will you promise to stop doing your best impression of a limpet?

Fred: ... *Slowly stands up, still clutching to Zev's shoulders* ...So it's a date?

Zev: *Facepalm* ... *Slides hand down to mouth, and glares at Namah* ...

Namah: *Grin* Don't worry, dear. Just this once. *Blows a kiss*

Hilda: Well the tables sure turned in this relationship.

Zev: *Grumbles* They're conspiring again *Grmbl Grmbl Grmbl*

*He drags Fred down the street*

-Symka 3-

*USarge looks at Hanmyo, then to the cats.

Back to Hanmyo.

Then to the cats.

Once more to Hanmyo.

Looks down.

Is suddenly holding a grilled cheese sandwich.*

US:"huh...so that's what we're doing here...oh well. They didn't ask me to look for a member of the Anten Seven on this planet whose particular expertise among the group lies in grappler ship combat using cats. so I won't say I found a member of the Anten Seven on this planet whose particular expertise among the group lies in grappler ship combat using cats."

*He shrugs then nibbles on the sandwich before offering a plate of sandwiches.*


-Leviathan-

Osseron: "Well, I have various beacons scattered throughout the multiverse...so name a place!_{and we Imperials drink amasac by the by}"

*Meanwhile he files away that little nugget of information in his cranial implants*

[ Symka 3, Hanmyo's House: ]

Hanmyo: *Ignores the sandwiches*

*She immediately hugs USarge around the waist, laying her cheek against his stomach*

Hanmyo: Thank you, Sarge. I can't tell you what you've done for me by saying that.

*Pulling away, she then carries the plate of sandwiches over to the table*

*Setting the plate down, she kneels on one of the mats and picks up a sandwich*

Hanmyo: I do feel pretty hungry! *Begins to eat*

Kenny & Matte: *Walk over to her and lay down*

---

[ Symka 3, Café Bleu: ]

*The sizeable café is very bright and open*

*Presently, Jade and Galestorm are staring at Lee in disbelief*

Galestorm: And you just left Sarge behind with her!? Why!!?

Lee: Because, I don't think she's a threat, right now. It would be wrong to attack her a - Oh wait. *Throws the mini-door against the wall*

Jade: *Stares into her cup of coffee, thinking*

~ ~ ~

[ Hei Fon 4, Outside the Dive: ]

Zev & Fred: *Are making their way back to the compound/mansion, chatting*

*Abruptly, Zev stops briefly, but keeps talking and moving in time to not tip Fred off*

Zev: Hey, Fred. I think Suzuka's a woman of her word, and I think you'll make it back safe. I need to pick something up, then I'll be right after you, okay?

Fred: *Deliberates for a while* ...Alright, Zev. I trust your judgment. *Hails a cab, and upon succeeding, departs for their original destination*

Zev: ... *Looks up to the top of a church, at the unadorned steeple* I guess that you decided we just had to tangle again ahead of schedule?

Suzuka: *Raises bokuto and shifts footing* The arrangement of a fifteen-minute battle before noon is the only mercy I show my targets. Now, it's a duel of honor. *Leaps*

Zev: *Tucks and rolls, narrowly avoiding a gust of wind that notches the stone pavement*

*A number of people scream, before Zev takes off into the street*

*Leaping, he flips over a car, lands on the hood of another, and kicks off to dash through an open alleyway*

Suzuka: *Pursues him, before a huge semi-truck's headlights fall on her*

*Without missing a beat, she turns and slashes her sword downward with all her strength*

*The driver leaps out just in time, as the slicing gale carves his truck and its trailer in half*

*Immediately, Suzuka is off in pursuit of Zev once again*

~ ~ ~

[ Datrio, West City: ]

Vi: *Presently eating a hot turkey sandwich*

Model 13: *Sitting nearby* I take it ya got all the turrets put up?

Vi: It took long enough, but yes. Say, have you seen Model 18?

Model 13: Last I saw, she was with Videl, Wisp, and that kid.

Vi: Hm. *Takes another bite, chews thoughtfully, and swallows* ...What kid?

Model 13: A dreamkeeper kid named "Ghost", I think. Seemed t'be a mute.

Vi: ... *Quickly finishes sandwich* Something's up.

*She walks off, leaving Model 13 to stare after*

Model 13: What's eatin' her? *Shrugs*

~ ~ ~

[ ???, Stony, Largely-Dead Planet: ]

*Swathed in perpetual night, the only signs of life on the entire planet are oversized seedpods huddling near any amount of water and small clusters of flowers in crevasses*

*Hanging in the air are huge, colorfully-striped constructs that resemble weather balloons and drizzle water from their open bottom-ends; they seem to be grown from the aforementioned seedpods, as one occasionally splits off from its origin every few minutes or so*

*Lying on the ground, near a grossly conspicuous suburban house slightly tilted on its foundations against a rocky hillside, is an unconscious girl*

*She has short, messy black hair, rectangular-lens glasses, and prominent buckteeth; her most prominent article of clothing is her t-shirt, displaying a horned blue ghost - Other than that, her outfit is perfectly nondescript, generic, and in layman's terms, boooring*

*Just out of arm's reach is what appears to be her open laptop, displaying some kind of vaguely douchey-looking gentleman as the main design of its upper shell*

*With a ding!, the laptop serves to jolt the young lady to awakeness*

???: Oh...? Oh! Where am I!? *Notices laptop* Dirk made it through! The others must have as well, oh thank goodness! I hope he hasn't been waiting long...

*She sits up, pulls the laptop closer, and logs on to chat*

---

timaeusTestified began pestering gutsyGumshoe

TT: Hey, Jane.
TT: Glad to see you made it.
TT: I can't get in touch with Roxy or Jake,
TT: But a contact of mine can say for certain that they're okay.
GG: Oh, that's simply wonderful, Dirk!
GG: If only I had wound up at a less dreary destination.
GG: Oh dear.

TT: What?
TT: What is it? Are you okay?
GG: Oh? Oh!
GG: Don't worry, I'm right as rain! :B
GG: It's just that it occurs to me:
GG: Judging from my clock, and since it's still working,
GG: It's been about two hours since we've entered.
TT: Excellent deduction.
TT: I don't mean to be rude when I say this,
TT: But so what?

GG: My dad's nowhere to be found!!!
TT: Oh.
TT: Well that doesn't sound good.
GG: There must not be any large predators here, though, or even scavengers;
GG: I was out where anything could pick me off, unconscious for two hours, and I don't have a scratch on me!
GG: Okay, so I have a little scratch on my elbow, but my point stands. :B
GG: My dad should still be okay!
TT: I'm happy to hear that.

TT: Listen, that contact I mentioned has a program that can view me, as my server player.
TT: Can you get in touch with your server player and see if they've spotted your dad?
GG: Um...That might be just a wee bit difficult to manage.
TT: You did something to piss them off didn't you?
GG: Only because she's a huuuuuuuuge jerk!!!
TT: That's a lot of u's. This must be some kind of jerkdom we're talking about.
GG: Admittedly, she did seem to know her way around this game...
GG: I'll see if I can make amends with this queen of hussies.
TT: Brotip from your bro Dirk: Try not to call her that when you talk.
GG: I'll see if I can resist the temptation! :B
TT: Cool. Good luck, Jane.
GG: Thanks muchly!!!

gutsyGumshoe has ceased pestering timaeusTestified

~ ~ ~

[ LOHAC Dungeon: ]

*By now, Dave and Terezi have cracked another two puzzles*

*Now, they stand back from the yawning entrance to a huge room resembling a coliseum, with gear-shaped, elevated platforms above the pool of lava at the center*

Dave: Yo Terezi. Got anything in your Sylladex that can lure the beastie out? *Prepares broken knightsword, before adjusting cuffs on tuxedo*

Terezi: W3LL, L3TS S33 WH4T 1 C4N F1ND W1TH MY H4NDY-D4NDY SCR4TCH-N'-SN1FF F3TCH MODUS *Takes out striped, colorful Sylladex once again*

*Scratching the surfaces of the cards, inhaling their scents deeply, shuffling them away, then repeating for the next, she looks for a good three minutes*

*At last, she finds something that makes her grin even wider, and she deploys the card*

*Out is thrown another dragon plushie, but this time camouflage and with a crank-pin on the back that is already turning with increasing speed*

*Without warning, a winding, amber tentacle lashes out, wraps around the plushie, and drags it down*

*It is chucked into the waiting jaws of a huge, indstinct creature, glaring out with its beady eyes*

*From within its lower jaw jut out two massive tusks, and it has some kind of pink, conical princess hat atop its head*

*Just as it is about to submerge again, it's eyes fly open and it grumbles in discontent*

*With a loud whoomph!, a smokey explosion bursts out of its jaws*

*Immediately after, it roars and begins flailing its tendrils in pain*

*All around the coliseum, Amber Liches are beginning to circle around*

[ 14x Amber Liches Have Appeared ]

Dave: *Readies knightsword* I think the Royal Deringer should be enough to hack down that Amber Kraken, with my time powers. Can you handle the Liches?

Terezi: *Cackles like a hyena, splitting cane to unsheath its twin blades* 1 F1ND YOUR L4CK OF F41TH D1STURB1NG, D4V3 >: D *Takes a flying leap down to the edge of the coliseum*

*Landing easily, she hugs the wall but quickly side-steps towards the first Lich*

*Taking a deep breath, her nose twitches just before she whirls upon it*

*She immediately begins hacking and slashing, shaving down half of its health vial in moments*

*Next, her forehead gains a shimmering teal glow, before launching onto the Lich's brow*

*It starts flailing silently, before shattering into grist - Some of which lands on the next rim*

Terezi: *Collects the grist, falling down to the next rim to finish doing so*

*There, she begins hacking into another Lich posthaste*

Dave: *Has been leaping across the gear-platforms, noting their rotation*

*Steadily making his way across them, he's suddenly attacked by a large tentacle*

*The Royal Deringer abruptly gains its full blade for an instant, just in time to sever the tendril*

*Three shimmering red Dave Clones repeat the action to defeat another trio of arms*

Dave: *Leaps over the sweeping movement of a huge tentacle, before rewinding time around himself in a localized area*

*He then slows the tentacle so that he can land on it, and Accelerates in a dash up its length*

*Just before it retreats into the magma, he lands spryly on the Amber Kraken's head*


*As his full robes of crimson manifest, complete with cape, formfitting hood, and glowing scarlet gear on chest - Clearly an analogue to Aradia's robes - He flickers violently*

*In a flurry of slashes, he leaves a growing area of crisscrossing scars on the Kraken's head*

*He does an Accelerated backflip off of its head to land on a platform just as it dives*

*Calmly waiting, he lets his robes disappear in favor of his tuxedo*


~ ~ ~

[ LOWAS?, Ruined Temple: ]

John: *Picks across the rubble* I wonder what Susansprite's problem is...?

*Notices a faint glow beneath a particularly large pile of rubble*

John: *Begins moving smaller stones aside, before finding that the vast majority are far too large for him to move himself* Hmmm...

*Taking a deep breath inward, he proceeds to blow a jet of pale blue mist outward onto the pile of stones*

*The outermost rocks begin to pale, shimmer, and are soon coated with ice*

John: *Equips some kind of garishly-colored hammer from Sylladex and rears back*

*The hammer has a red dice cascader on top, a hook on the back of the head, and a harpoon-like pick on the bottom*

*As carefully as he can, he strikes the first of the stones - They're reduced to glimmering powder easily*

*In fact, the entire pile soon crumbles away into rock dust*

John: Wow! The Pop-O-Matic Vrillyhoo Hammer is something else! *Looks back to the remains of the pile, and promptly gasps*

*There lies another Sprite, colored purple with a lime green tinge - An anthromorphic canine with a messy shock of hair, he has long, whiplike ears protruding out to the sides from under the hood flowing into his shoulders, and wireframed spectacles over his closed eyes*

John: Oh gosh!! Are you okay!? I didn't hurt you, did I? *Rushes over to the Sprite*

???sprite: *Is completely unconscious, but in the way of a deep, deep slumber*

John: *Carefully sits next to the Sprite, noting his feathery wings folded against the wall*

*He carefully lifts the Sprite up, allowing his wings to spread out*

*Setting him back down, John stays there, for the time being*

~ ~ ~

[ LOLAR, Turtle Temple: ]

Rose: *Walks into another chamber*

*There, she finds a pink-hued Sprite waiting*

*Garbed like a princess, the feline Sprite has tentacle-arms extending out to his sides and similar Cthulhian feelers in place of whiskers*

Rose: Hey, Jaspers. Or Jaspersprite, I suppose is most proper.

---

[Off the Coast of Miami]

*A Large black Sailing ship with Black masts and tattered black sails appears on the horizon of Dirk's house, many men running about, adjusting ropes and sails, keeping her steady. At the helm is a shaggy fellah named Joshamee Gibbs with his face outlined in grey sideburns and topped with dark brown hair, he wears a whitte shirt with a sleeveless blue over jacket*

Gibbs: That be our headin' capn?

*Behind Gibbs stands a taller gent, his wicked smile is lined with gold, his hair in long dreads, topped with a iconic hat with beads. He wears an outfit similar to Gibbs. His name is Jack Sparrow*

Jack: Aye, that be our headin' straight and true. there be a chap there in need of our particular brand of... assistance. He has an adventure awaiting him, and at the end of adventure lies treasure.

Gibbs: We do like Treasure.

Jack: Who said you get any?

Gibbs: I'm steering the Ship.

Jack: Oh, good point... fine, you get a share.

*The ship sails closer to the House*

[ Dirk's House, Off the Coast of Miami: ]

Dirk: *Leans out of his window*

*He stares at the approaching ship blankly*

Dirk: ...You have got to be shitting me. *Facepalm*

*Walking away, he soon makes it up to the roof*

*There, the Alchemiter has been fitted with numerous attachments*

Dirk: Huh. Kanaya's been busy up here. *He moves over to the corner*

*He watches the dark ship as it approaches*

Dirk: You guys just get here from the Carribean? I'm afraid I don't have any wenches or rum on hand. All I've got is warm, non-alcoholic orange drink, but this crap'll probably ward off any bugs. What brings you to my humble abode?

*His Sylladex is carefully kept at hand*

~ ~ ~

[ LOHAC Dungeon, Boss Battle 1: ]

Terezi: *Has defeated five of the fourteen Amber Liches*

*With another pulse of teal energy from her brow, she obliderates the sixth*

*Leaping onto a slick ramp, she slides along to collect the tumbling grist*

*At the end, she does a leap off and spins, colliding with another Lich*

*The flurry of slashes quickly knocks it down to 1/3 health*

*Meanwhile, Dave is surrounded by four or five twitching tentacle ends*

*Before him, the Amber Kraken rears its head and slams two tentacles down*

Dave: *Accelerates forward between the two, extending the Royal Deringer again*

*He waylays the massive beast with a glowing red blitz of slashes*

*Kicking off the beast's head, he Accelerates away to land in the center of a platform*

*Giving off a bellow that shakes the entire area, the Amber Kraken's tentacles begin wrapping around two of the nearest platforms*

*In a huge burst of strength, it shatters them and drags them down*

*With a gurgle, it submerges itself in the magma once more*

Dave: *Cool as absolute zero, waits it out*


~ ~ ~

[ Hei Fon 4: ]

Zev: *Has made it halfway back to the compound*

*Just as Suzuka leaps from a rooftop to continue pursuit, a hover car screams in beside him and flips its door up and open*

Hilda: Get in. *Revvs the engine to show she's not waiting long*

Zev: *Leaps in, slams the door shut, and holds on for his life*

Hilda: *Floors it, leaving a trail of dust as she heads for the city limits*

Suzuka: *Takes to the rooftops once more, following at top speed*

---

[ In the Car: ]

Namah: *In the backseat* Where are we going?

Hilda: Anywhere but back there. *Stays completely calm*

Zev: Head to that quarry we saw from the ship's descent. Suzuka won't be able to sneak up on us out there.

Hilda: You got it. *Banks a hard left as they leave the city limits*

Zev: *Removes self from the window* Once we get there, stay back. Don't shoot.

Hilda: Zev, if you're about to die, I'm shooting to kill.

Namah: ...Hilda, trust him, just this once.

Hilda: ... *Sighs tiredly* Unbelievable.

*They're soon at their destination*

*As Zev leaves the car, they pull away*

*By now, the sun is rapidly setting*

Zev: *Summons zanpakuto, leaving it sealed*

*Like thus, he waits patiently*

Me: Amasac. Huh. Hmm...beacons. Take me to the nearest cantina. I'm bound to find information about Keichi. Wherever Keichi is, SM Treveya is. And wherever she is, Caiaphus is....though there is so much unfinished business to attend to. Ultron, the plague....that other thing.

*looks at one of the drones*

Me: Yeah. Nearest cantina. If we're near Neo Z'traa, the nearest is close to the Hei Fon solar system. You have any beacons there, or would you prefer Malchior IV?

---

And Hello! Zev wrote:[ Dirk's House, Off the Coast of Miami: ]

Dirk: *Leans out of his window*

*He stares at the approaching ship blankly*

Dirk: ...You have got to be shitting me. *Facepalm*

*Walking away, he soon makes it up to the roof*

*There, the Alchemiter has been fitted with numerous attachments*

Dirk: Huh. Kanaya's been busy up here. *He moves over to the corner*

*He watches the dark ship as it approaches*

Dirk: You guys just get here from the Carribean? I'm afraid I don't have any wenches or rum on hand. All I've got is warm, non-alcoholic orange drink, but this crap'll probably ward off any bugs. What brings you to my humble abode?

*His Sylladex is carefully kept at hand*

OOS: That awkward moment when that sounds plausible.

---

Start remembering what you read.

*the being of Korasa is walking through a blizzard*

*he stumbles, and falls unconscious*

*The storm passes, and Ciel arrives in a Humvee with snow tracks. There are some TYGER guards inside*

Ciel: "It's him! *she walks over to the being*"

????: "Guuuh....."

Ciel: "Guard, let's take him to the nearest facility. He needs medical attention."

Guard 1: "He doesn't look-"

Ciel: "Help me!"

*the guard grabs the being, and puts him in the back with the other guards*

*they drive to the nearest facility*


OOS: Oh, and DRJ, see my last few posts lolololololol

-Symka 3, Hanmyo's house-

*USarge nodds and smiles, following her to the mats after the sudden hug*

US: "Yeah, I just got out of a period where someone was chasing after me (not in the good way) and I get how bad that can be...anywho, lets eat then! Oh wait, one thing first...."

*He grabs a lampshade out of the air, then lifts one of the mats to reveal a trapdoor, after opening it and looking in for a few seconds, he drops down the lampshade and closes the door before sitting down*

US:"Don't ask why I did that."

-The Leviathan-

*Osseron takes Klak to a command room, looking at the navigational data before turning to klak*

Osseron: Well, originally I was following The Dreadnaught, on Blackout's orders...but it seems either he didn't appear, or some cosmic forces forgot about my existance and a role I was supposed to be filling, as we seem to have fallen into some kind of space that the computer is calling a "plot hole" or something like that...."

-Meanwhile, in The Architect's location-

*A lampshade falls down from on high and lands neatly upon his head, a sticky note on the inside of the shade reads: "forgot something?" in USarge's handwriting*

-Back to the Leviathan-
*He pokes around the computer a few moments before saying*

Osseron: "I seem to have a beacon near the outskirts of the Malchior system, and one beacon en-route to Hei Fon. If you want to wait abit I can take you to Hei Fon"

[ Symka 3, Hanmyo's House: ]

Hanmyo: ...You're a really, really good person, Sarge.

*She takes a bite of her sandwich and chews contemplatively, smiling softly*

Hanmyo: I think it was fate that we met here today.

Kenny & Matte: *Go to curl up aside USarge*

~ ~ ~

[ Hei Fon 4, Abandoned Quarry: ]

Zev: *Kneeled on the ground, holds Dai Kirin horizontally before himself*

*As the sound of footfalls crunching in the dry, packed dirt can be heard, he quickly rises up to his feet*

Suzuka: *Grasping bokuto with both hands, right foot ahead of and in line with left foot, stares Zev down* Are you ready to face me, First Prince Zev Raregroove?

Zev: Nope. But as I recall, that rarely ever stops me. *Speeds forward*

Suzuka: *Raises sword overhead, then slashes with a curve down to her hip*

*The result is a slicing vortex that drills through the air and straight towards Zev*

*However, Zev ducks down and forward, springing off of his handstand to bring a onehanded slash down towards Suzuka*

Suzuka: *Effortlessly blocks, but abruptly finds her bokuto inseparable from Zev's katana*

Zev: *Lowers hand, and lets the illusion drop - Showing that a web of glowing orange strands and nodes have bound their weapons together*

*Just as he gives a smirk of triumph, however, he finds a kick thrown into his ribcage*

Suzuka: *Kicks the same side once more, then throws a jab into the rough area of Zev's heart*

Zev: *Goes flying back, the web fading just after his hand leaves his blade*

*His zanpakuto clatters to the ground, abandoned as Suzuka charges him again*

Zev: *Flips back to feet, eyes wide open* Oooh shi - Eep!

*He's forced to adopt a series of circular movements, dodging the monstrous power of Suzuka's blows by a hairsbreadth each time*

*By chance, his hand lashes out and grabs onto stray fabric*

Zev: *Tugs out of reflex, leaping and spinning away* What the devil?

Suzuka: *Finds that he's grabbed her sash* Why you - !! *Is cut off as she finds herself spun away by the sash unwinding*

*Falling back, she goes to her knees as her robes fall dangerously loose - Barely preserving her dignity, she blushes*

Suzuka: You, you cad!! You give that back to me this instant!!

Zev: Will we call this battle a draw if we do? *Inspects the sash's fabric*

Suzuka: Of course not! We return to battle immediately!! I will not settle for less!

Zev: Alrighty then. I call this my spoils. This is exceptional fabric! It'll pay for a few meals if I sell it to the local clothing shop!

Suzuka: *Blush reddens further* RRRRRGGGHHH!! *Clutches robes tighter in futility*

*However, at a flicker of color, her hand instantly lashes out to grab the sash*

Zev: We'll call this a draw. Until you can kill me, I'll hold you to your honor that you won't make any attempts on Fred Luo's life. Is that a deal?

Suzuka: ... *Holds sash to her chest* ...Very well. I consent to this agreement.

Zev: Alrighty then! Now, where did Hilda and Namah park? *Wanders off, calling for them*

Suzuka: ...Zev Raregroove...You are a strange...Strange man.

*She sets to work fixing her robes once again*

~ ~ ~

[ LOHAC Dungeon: ]

*By now, Dave's battle with the Kraken has resulted in half of the platforms being crushed*


Terezi: *Has defeated nine of the fourteen Liches* 1M H3R3 1F YOU N33D MY H3LP, COOL K1D

Dave: Nah, I got this. *Is knocked back by the Kraken sweeping its tendril*

*Falling back, he's narrowly able to stop himself from falling over the edge*

*As the two tendrils fall towards him, he's forced to leave himself still while freezing the Kraken in time*

*He's beginning to crack, and at last, the heat causes his concentration to shatter*

*However, another temporal field has appeared, freezing the Kraken for him*

Terezi: MMMMM~ TH4T CH3RRY R3D D3L1C1OUSN3SS, COMPL3M3NT1NG TH4T R4SPB3RRY BLOOD...1T C4N ONLY B3~

Aradia: thank me later! lay s0me smack 0n this kraken f0r me, w0uld y0u, mr. slim strider?

Dave: Much obliged. *Flips to feet, and Accelerates*

*A temporal field appears around his sword, then begins to form a multitude of swords*

*They all rain down on the Kraken, piercing and disappearing*

-Symka 3, Hanmyo's House-

*USarge tilts his head, thinking about it, and shruggs*

US:"Thank you for that. Also maybe it was, who knows the workings of this multiverse after all? I think we need something to drink...hang on."

*he calls over the door, then opens a small section and reaches in...*

-over at Café Bleu-

*The mini door opens up, and USarge's arm reaches out, flailing a bit before grabbing a nearby pot of tea from a passing waiter before dissapearing back into the door. A few seconds later the door burps out some local currency onto the waiter's tray as he passes by again.*

-and back to Hanmyo's house-

*USarge pulls out his arm, revealing the teapot he 'lent' from the Café. He pulls out a pair of cups and pours some out for them*

US:"Good thing Lee put that door down in a restaurant!"

*He chuckles a bit before sipping from the tea, clearly enjoying the change of pace*

*MakutaKlak laughs at what Sarge did to the Architect*

---

*Klak doesn't know what to be shocked about more-the fact that Osseron is allied with Blackout, or the fact that he is stuck in a plot hole.*

*He decides to stay silent on both. He did not want to end the graciousness of his host*

Me: *bad poker face* Sure! Take me to Hei Fon if you wish. Whatever this ship can handle. Though, by the looks of it from the inside, it looks like it can handle plenty of trips.

---

*the being of Korasa wakes up on a hospital bed*

????: "What....where am I?"

Ciel: "You're awake. Glad you could come back to us."

????: "I remember you...some of you....my memories are fractured. I remember getting knocked out, then next thing I know there were....monsters everywhere. Guards were fighting them. I had to observe the fight, then.....then I left."

Ciel: "Observe? Interesting term for what you did. Anyways, how are you feeling? I found you in the middle of a blizzard."

????: "Yes. It was freezing out there. Just endless...snow...snow....endless snow.....snow.....everywhere. It's been a long time since I last saw shelter."

Ciel: "You look worn out. Did you walk across the entire moon or something?"

????: "Yes. Yes I did."

Ciel: "O-oh. Right....how come"

????: "But I feel much better now. Stronger."

Ciel: "We gave you nourishments. You were barely conscious. I had assumed your species did not-"

????: "Thank you. Where am I?"

Ciel: "Facility Tipoca, named in honor of the great city. It is a living quarter and hospital. Not a laboratory like the one you know."

????: "Interesting."

*Blizzard Wolfang walks into the room*

Blizzard Wolfang: "You. I saw you. I know you. What are you doing here?"

Ciel: "I found him in the middle of a blizzard."

Blizzard: "Great Scott. You were saved from a nasty one. *he looks quizzically at the being, then steps out*"

????: "Weirdo."

Ciel: "He serves Dr. Strange with loyalty. I wouldn't be surprised that he himself is blind to kindness."

Blizzard: *to a TYGER Guard* "It's the specimen. Ciel thinks that it is friendly. It is volatile, and must be psychologically rearranged. After it feels better, take it to the mental ward. That thing must be molded before being used as a weapon. Or else it is weak. And I hate weaklings."

[ Symka 3, Hanmyo's House: ]

Hanmyo: *Giggle* Thank you, my good man!

*Wrapping both hand's fingers around the cup, Hanmyo takes a drink*

Kenny & Matte: *Purr contentedly*

---

[ Café Bleu: ]

Lee: *Gives a smug, shiteating grin*

Galestorm: Yes, we get it, Lee. *Sighs, sipping a sour lime shake*

Jade: *Giggles at the two*

~ ~ ~

[ Hei Fon 4, Desperado Enterprises: ]

*By now, two days have passed since the battle with Suzuka*

*Still at its place on the docking arrray, the Desperado is in a fine state*

*In the warehouse bought by Fred Luo, the group lounges both within and without the ship*

*Sitting in a well-stuffed armchair, Hilda sips from her flask of some unknown drink*

*Meanwhile, Melfina is reading a book on philosophy in another chair; Zev is reclined on the couch, staring placidly up at the ceiling; and Aisha is sat on the stairs, playing a sleazy handheld dating game with feline glee*

Game: I want you! *Slap!* I need you!! *Slap!* I REALLY NEED YOU!! *Eeeek!* *Slap-Slap-Slap!* *Thud!* Game Over!

Aisha: Heheheheeeh~ Aisha's getting the hang of this game! *Starts a new game* Hm? *Ears twitch as she looks to the door*

*A moment later, a frantic knocking at the door causes Zev to spring up and calmly walk over to answer it*

*There, an older gentleman with a thick mustache, neat suit, fedora, and great amounts of jewelry enters*

Zev: Hello, sir! Are you here to hire Desperado Enterprise's services? We handle shipping, bounties, marks, and everything under anyone's sun!

Older Man: *Sighs shakily* Thank you, lad. My name is Blaidd Mynydd, and I hail from Symka 4, not far from here at all. My village has had troubles with a beast which I need your particular expertise with, Mr. Raregroove.

Zev: ... *Calmly closes the door for him* If I may ask, what is this beast's particular persuasion, Mr. Mynydd? *Goes over to the newly-placed minifridge, retrieving a bottle of water*

Blaidd Mynydd: *Takes the bottle* Many thanks. *Takes a shakey drink of cool water* You see, it's a creature from the Netherworld. A Felynn, to be precise. I'll tell you up-front, the village I practically own is normally very tolerant of demons and errant spirits.

Zev: What type of Felynn are we talking about? Nekomata? Kit-Kat? Pao Mao? *Has picked up a notepad somewhere and is scribbling down notes for later*

Blaidd: Far as I can tell, it's a Cath Palug. *Sighs at Zev's fallen shoulders* None of us can rightly tell what it wants with our village, but it's already put our finest fighters in the hospital. It's going to kill someone before too long. Someone already lost a couple of hunting dogs.

Melfina: Hmmmmm... *Head bowed slightly, appears to be in deep thought* ...Ah, I see. My data stores didn't have much on demons. Are the Cath Palug every bit as dangerous as the legends make them out to be?

Zev: Well, Fenrich hired Nekomata and Kit-Kats only for his Kit-Kat Brigade. The one and only Pao Mao I've ever seen him hire is a guard who helps protect the gate. As they grow more powerful, it becomes harder for them to master their instincts. What we're dealing with must be a Cath Palug that has succumbed to its bloodier tendencies.

Melfina: That's so sad...I suppose there's no way to save her, then? *Looking crestfallen, head starts to bow downwards* ...

Zev: Ah, I never said that. You forget that I've mastered quite a variety of mantra.

Melfina: *Perks up instantly, head raised* You might be able to save her?

Zev: Might being the operative word, but I'll try my hardest.

Hilda: So, Mr. Blaidd Mynydd. Let's discuss the payment.

Blaidd: Right. I'm willing to pay 150,000 wong up front, and 250,000 if you can, at the least, ensure that the Cath Palug won't be attacking again.

Hilda: That sounds reasonable. Feel free to accompany us by our ship to your planet.

Blaidd: Much obliged. *Takes another sip of water*

~ ~ ~

[ LOHAC Dungeon: ]

*Now, Dave and Aradia are more than a match for the Amber Kraken*

Aradia: *Summons a pair of large, mostly pale blue and crystalline musical boxes that hover beside her* Tempus Fugit!

*Encircling both musical boxes appear a pair of temporal fields, which begin to crackle dangerously*

Dave: *Conjures another temporal field around the Royal Deringer* Timeless Onslaught.

*Repeating his last attack, he begins launching a wave of swords*

*From Aradia's musical boxes are fired twin spheres of crimson energy, which fly wildly around the Amber Kraken*

*Swooping in, they explode violently against the creature's hide*

Terezi: *Has dispatched the final Lich* H33 H33 H33 YOU TWO M4K3 4N 3XC3LL3NT T34M

Aradia: heheheh! we really d0, d0n't we?

Dave: You know it.

-Symka 3-

*As USarge works diligently at eating sandwiches and drinking tea, He starts to put the cats*

US: "So how did you get all the way out here by the way? Do you have a ship of your own or did you hitchhike out here?"


-The Leviathan-
*Osseron enters afew commands and turns to klak, waiting for the jump drive to engage*

Osseron:"Oh, travel damage is irrelevant on this vessel, and combat damage is negligable too, seeing as a good 99.999154% of this vessel is made from pure hyper-refined adamantium. Took me awhile and a whole galaxy to get the materials to make this, but it's worth it. Only two weapons exist as far as I know that can damage the vessel, and only one which can easily tear through the shields too. Really it's the only reason I signed up with Blackout, he has such lovely R&D labs and oh-so-many testing subjects.

And do please remind me to play poker with you, I'd love to take your gelt.

*The drive activates and the Leviathan disappears from the pothole-space*

-Orbit over Hei Fon-

*The Leviathan tears through the space-time barrier, appearing in orbit over the planet. It's sheer mass changing the tides a bit as the 3,000 kilometer ship's gravity suddenly appeared*

[ Symka 3, Hanmyo's House: ]

Hanmyo: Oh yes, I have a ship of my own! It's quite reliable, too - Its name is the Torarato. It's a grappler ship, as you can expect.

*Finishing her last sandwich, Hanmyo smiles at how close Kenny and Matte are to USarge*

Hanmyo: They're not usually so friendly towards boys. I think they really like you!

*Standing up, she brushes the crumbs off of her pantlegs and heads towards the sandbags*

Hanmyo: ...How about I teach you a little big of self-defense? I don't think my usual style would be well-suited to you, but you might make good use of jujutsu.

*Calmly smiling, she waits for USarge's response*

---

[ Symka 3, Spaceship Dock: ]

*Several people are bustling about*

Mamimi: *Picks her way through, until arriving at a beaten-up clunker of a ship*

*Heading inside unannounced, she finds a tall, fit young man with semi-short, straight crimson hair, a star tattoo on his shoulder left exposed by his sleeveless black shirt, and many small scars faintly visible on his body*

Mamimi: Hey, Gene. You see Jim around anywhere? There's someone I want him to meet.

Gene: Last I saw of him, he was out restocking. Should be down at the dock store.

Mamimi: Thank you! *Runs back out again*

Gene: *Scratches head, staring after*

~ ~ ~

[ Symka System: ]

*The group is nearing Symka 4, a dull blue and dark green planet*

Melfina: *Speaks from her chamber* We will be in orbit of the planet in 27 minutes and counting. All systems normal.

Aisha: *Sitting in a side-chair, yawns* Mrowww~ That was a pretty boring trip. When does Aisha get to do something fun?

Hilda: Oh, you'll have plenty of fun when we're all fighting for our lives.

Zev & Namah: *Nod, murmuring in agreement*

Aisha: *Scowls* Yeah, yeah. *Stretches languidly, then begins to nod off*

Blaidd: I can't thank you all enough for doing this. *Wipes sweat off brow with a cloth*

Zev: Relax! *Gives a grin* We're happy to help! Besides, I really wanted a chance to use the new gear Fred gave me.

Namah: Don't worry a bit about it. Like Zev said, it's our pleasure.

*The ship contines its approach*

~ ~ ~

[ ???, Deep Space: ]

*A huge, golden-colored cruiser jets through*

*Smooth save for a number of rectangular, bladed projections all over its hull, prominently displayed on its prow is a red-outlined yin and yang symbol*

*Inside a hidden room, a meeting is taking place...*

---

[ Clandestine Meeting: ]

*Around a platform in the gloom, five figures are gathered*

*Above, on the platform, stands a tall, robed man of towering presence*

*He wears some kind of mask, headdress, and robes with a yin and yang-adorned breastplate*

???: Hamushi, give me a report on the status of the ship.

Hamushi: Yes, Lord Hazanko. *A voluptuous woman, wears a slightly revealing outfit of red and magenta, with a hood/mask covering her eyes and neck* We are presently leaving the Hoppo System, and are on a course for the Symka System. We should reach Symka 7 in a matter of hours.

*She unfolds a fan with a feathery pink ruff, and waves it before herself elegantly*

Hazanko: Excellent. Where are Hanmyo and Shimi? Have they not yet returned?

???: *A lean man in robes, wears a mask resembling a demon* Unfortunately not, Lord Hazanko. Shimi is still making his way back from assassinating his last target, while Hanmyo's excused leave will not be over for two more weeks.

Hazanko: Thank you, Tobigera. I trust you did not suffer any injuries in your battle with Twilight Suzuka and Yoruichi Shihouin?

Tobigera: No, sir. I sustained no harm, and I am ready to continue my pursuit of the bio-android at your command.

???: Heh. No injuries besides your wounded pride. *A stout man in drab robes and a monk's necklace of prayer beads, wears what resembles a bag for a mask, with empty black eyeholes and a toothy grin painted on*

Tobigera: I would advise that you keep such petty barbs to yourself, Hitoriga. I will gladly settle our grievances with actions once the meeting is over.

*Nearby, two separated, obscured figures keep out of the argument and say nothing*

Hamushi: Now, now. Tobigera, Hitoriga, it reflects poorly to bicker so.

Hitoriga: Very well. I apologize for my rude commentary, Tobigera.

Tobigera: Thank you. I apologize for sinking to threats.

Hazanko: If we are all quite finished, I would like a status report on Star Squad of the Kei Pirates.

Hamushi: Yes, Lord Hazanko. They are in the Symka System and are moving to gauge the strength of the individuals protecting the bio-android.

Hazanko: Most excellent. I leave you all to return to your respective tasks, but with a foreword of things to come.

*Raising his clenched fist before himself, it can be seen that his gnarled, veiny hand has two golden rings on the middle and forefinger and some kind of eyelike tattoo on the back*

Hazanko: The 108 Stars are approaching a time of great consequence. The Leyline is close within our grasp. Now is coming the time when destiny shall be rent asunder, and we claim the power we search for. Return to your posts knowing that the Galaxy, and perhaps the Universe, shall never be the same upon our ascension. Go forth and forge our path, my Anten Seven.

The Five of the Seven There: *Bow their heads in unison* Thy will be done, Lord Hazanko. May the 108 Stars claim the entire night sky.

*With that, they leave the room*

Hazanko: *Leaves silently*

---

[ Meanwhile, On A Heavily Urbanized Planet: ]

*In a swathe of destruction, several thugs lay broken and bloodied all around*

*Eyes swimming with tears, a young boy and a girl find themselves picked up in a couple of strong arms*

???: *Cannot be seen clearly* Are you two going to be okay? Can you find your parents from here without anyone coming after you?

Girl: *Snff* *Snff* Yes, Mister...We'll be okay! Thank you! *Smiles through her tears*

Boy: Mister, you're really cool! What's your name?

???: *Picks up a huge, semi-mechanical construct with two large protrusions, looping his arms through a pair of straps to carry it on back* Well, I can't tell you my real name...

???: ...But I suppose it won't hurt to tell you this one. Call me Shimi.

*The two kids wave goodbye as Shimi makes his way for a dock*

Shimi: It's taking long enough to get back to the Geomancer... *Sighs*

*As night begins to fall, his form grows more unclear*

Shimi: To be a member of the Anten Seven.

*With a shrug, he enters the docks*

~ ~ ~

[ Back at the Symka System: ]

*Most of the group is out of the bridge*

*By now, the ship has begun its descent towards Symka 4*

*Only Namah, Hilda, and Aisha (whom is conked out) are there; as well as Melfina, being the ship's navigation system*

Namah: ...Hilda...What do you know about the Anten Seven that you can share?

Hilda: ... *Types in a few commands* Gilliam, please bring these images up on the screen.

Gilliam: *Speaks from his small, circular monitor* Yes, Captain.

*Up on the front display appear a couple of images, as well as a few documents*

*One is a blurry photo that is still clearly Hamushi, launching a fiery blast from her fan*

*The other shows Hitoriga, a bloody, serrated dadao at his side*

Hilda: They serve Hazanko, and only Hazanko, acting as his personal task force, bodyguards, and commanders among the 108 Stars. They also don't work together much. I don't know a lot about them - Share what's on those files, Gilliam.

Gilliam: Yes, Captain. We can say for sure that Hamushi lures men to their deaths with her sex appeal alone, that Tobigera is a master of disguise, and that Hitoriga is a master of swordplay, as well as a traitorous backstabber who shouldn't be trusted. He makes use of quick, brutal strikes in between biding his time by way of his incredible defenses, while he is prone to cheating often and readily.

Namah: Hmmm...So, it was Tobigera that attacked us. *Leans back in chair*

*They fall silent as the ship begins to alight*

Namah: Get up, Aisha. We'll take you to get some roasted eel and barbecue, if that restaurant that Pammie mentioned is still here. We'll need your Beast Strength fully-fueled.

Aisha: Mrrrwwww... *Rises up* M'kay...

-Symka 3-

US:*as he gently prys the cats off of him* "Sure, I'll give it a try...never been any skilled in up-front combat, so a little training should do me good. I do warn you I have all the flexibility of a plank though..."

*He joins Hanmyo at the sandbags*

<BZPower>

*The Architect takes the lampshade, and eats it*

-----

<ZFT homeworld>

*The Dreadnought has arrived at the ZFT homeworld*

Starscream: *through radio* Hello, this is Starscream to Osseron. Come in please.

-----

<Battle of Shinobi-Nui>

*The Energized Protodermis Entity roars, then creates a tentacle and slams it hard into Ynot and Blade*

*somehow, they are not transformed or destroyed*

EPE: I affect only those I wish to. The others.....they will die anyway.

*it launches a wave of energy at them*

-----

<Malchior IV, fleet base>

*SB puts a bomb on another frigate, then runs over to Rahn*

SB: This is taking too long. We need another plan.

*SB then shape-shifts into a Scout, and begins running from frigate to frigate, sticking bombs on them*

-----

<Charlestown, Boston>

*Aster and Rainn eventually run into a group of slightly strange-looking people studying the crime scene*

Olivia Dunham: *points a gun at them* What are you doing here?

-----

<Harbinger crash site>

*behind the door, there are many boxes*

*Abeloth walks in, and scans the boxes*

Abeloth: I am detecting a faint energy signature.

*he begins opening the boxes and checking them*

-----

<Ailyb-Gypte>

Turel: Well, it worked, didn't it, Generalissimo?

-----

<F-Blackout's throne room>

*Ferak runs into the room*

Ferak: You summoned me, my lord?

F-Blackout: Yes. It would appear that this 'Raziel' may be something of a threat. Activate the Zeta project immediately.

Ferak: Yes, my lord.

-----

((Before The Leviathan arrives in ZFT space))

Me: *salutes Osseron* Thanks for the aid, partner. And I'd look forward to a poker game.

*he teleports off of the ship, and into a cantina in the orbit of Hei Fon 4*

---

*Suddenly, the chair leaps into the air, and crashes into SB*

*it falls the ground, and shape shifts into the Baterra*

Rahn: "What? Baterra!"

Baterra: "*scans both SB and Rahn* Subjects not known Uterio War combatants."

Rahn: "What the bloody hell is he talking about?"

---

Rainn: "We're here to see David Robert Jones. He has some information that I find interesting. I don't plan on having any conflicts. *looks at Olivia's gun, and smiles*"

---

Airachnid: "What is it?"

---

*Figlio growls*

*suddenly, Ra arrives on a glowing chariot of scarabs*

Ra: "You there. You claim to be Uterio's progeny?"

Figlio: "Uterio di Armechio was my father. My name is Figlio di Armechio. I plan on restoring his empire."

Ra: *looks at Figlio* "You remind me of him a great deal. That is enough persuasion. Come, we must leave before dusk."

*four scarabs pull Figlio, Turel, Praepositus, and Vellt (one scarab for each) and take them to Ra's palace*

*everyone rushes inside upon sundown*

Ra: "So...restoring the Generalissimo's empire. I thought the Great Beings were still alive."

Figlio: "They are presently being misguided by another named TPK. My father did plan on killing them all anyways. So they are of no use to me at this moment. I will form an empire secretly and quietly, and bring vengeance across this universe."

Ra: "We Osirians have always been allied to the cause of the Armechio family. You have all the armies of Ailyb-Gypte at your side, Figlio."

Figlio: "Thank you, Ra."

*Vellt bows*

---

*TYGER guards charge at the being of Korasa*

Ciel: "What the heck?"

????: "What is the meaning of this?"

TYGER Guard 10: "You are an escaped subject! You are too volatile!"

Ciel: "No....you are-"

????: "VOLATILE?! I am not a mistake!"

*he runs from the living quarters, and rushes outside*

Blizzard Wolfang: "Don't let him escape! *he starts chasing the being*"

*the creature of Korasa jumps into the air, and begins to fly*

????: "I can...fly?! I CAN FLY! I CAN LEAVE THIS WRETCHED PLACE!"

*he flies into the distance*

[ Symka 3, Hanmyo's House: ]

Hanmyo: Alright. Try to attack me, hand-to-hand.

Kenny & Matte: *Stand aside, watching*

Hanmyo: Don't worry, I'll be fine!

---

[ Symka 3, Spaceship Dock, Dock Store: ]

*A short young lad of messy, jawlength sandy-colored hair, probably about eleven years old, is struggling with a large couple of boxes*

*He finds one box lifted, and is about to give his thanks before he sees who it is*

Mamimi: *Smiles* Hey, Jim! I found someone I think you'd like to meet.

Jim: Huh. Isn't that funny. Last someone you introduced me to tried to molest me.

Mamimi: Haruko does that to everyone. At least she didn't hit you with her guitar. Like "bap" or "thud" or "krang" or "doof" or -

Jim: Listen, I might go along with you, so long as you help me finish my chores.

Mamimi: *Nods* My Soul Greens and I are at your service, Mr. Hawking!

Jim: *Siiigh* The things I let you get me into... *Grmbl*

~ ~ ~

[ Symka 4: ]

*The Desperado has landed on a small pad in a remote dock*

*Luckily for the crew, just off the main complex are a series of restaurants*

*To one in particular, Namah, Zev, Hilda, Melfina, and Aisha have been treated to a large meal by Blaidd*

*All of them gladly partake of the meal, but as she is wont to do, Aisha is devouring her oversized portions with insane relish*

*Picking up an entire serving bowl of ramen with one hand, she takes her chopsticks and begins shovelling the noodles and other bits into her mouth*

*Quickly downing the entire bowl, she's soon tossed a few strips of roasted eel down her gullet, followed by some blocks of kimchi*

*Slowly, one by one, the rest of the group stops to stare at her demolishing of her food*

Aisha: *Scarfs down a number of steamed pork rolls, humming with delight*

Blaidd: Ah...Is this young lady...Always like this...? *Sips a glass of water*

Zev: You have no idea. *Keeps his egg rolls protected as he eats* Ctarl-Ctarl already have a fast metabolism, but any use of their Beast Strength burns up calories at an exponentially faster rate. She's the reason we need generous payments like yours to pay our meals. *Mnch-Mnch*

Namah: *Is eating a barbecue sandwich* You enjoying yourself, Aisha?

Aisha: Mmm-hmmff!! *Picks up some barbecued ribs and tucks in*

Hilda: *Sips a glass of spiced rum* I guess this Cath Palug will come out at night?

Blaidd: Correct. I'll have to head back to my mansion for safety.

Zev: We understand. Keep yourself safe while we handle this.

Melfina: *Sips a glass of water, looking at Blaidd oddly*

Hilda: Something wrong, Melfina?

Melfina: Oh! Nothing, sorry.

Hilda: ... *Takes a long drink* ...

Melfina: *Ducks head down*



~ ~ ~

[ LOHAC Dungeon: ]

Dave & Aradia: *Have the Amber Kraken on the ropes*

*With a final huge overhead slash from Dave, it explodes into huge chunks of widely-varied types of grist*

*Splitting into numerous temporal clones, both Dave and Aradia collect the grist before it hits the lava with ease*

*They return to join Terezi, whose grin still stretches impossibly wide*

Terezi: 4R3 W3 R34DY TO G3T MOV1NG?

*The two nod, and smile at each other as she leads the way*

*Soon enough, they follow after*

-Symka 3-

USarge: "Alright, here goes!"

*USarge takes up a simple fighting stance, pointing his left shoulder towards Hanmyo and raising his fists up, his right hand shielding the face while the left flew at Hanmyo in a simple but quick jab*

-The Leviathan-

*As soon as Klak teleports away, he receives Starscream's message and promptly replies*

Osseron:"Ah there you are! Seems like my beacon got swallowed by a time-space anomaly, so I had to take a slight detour to Hei Fon. Took advantage and dropped a friend of mine off here but now that I'm done the second beacon should be arriving at your location again."

*A beacon appears right next to the Dreadnaught, before lighting itself.

A few moments later the Leviathan's space-time distortion appears and the Titan-class vessel powers into the system*

Osseron: "There we are~<3"

[ Symka 3, Hanmyo's House: ]

Hanmyo: *Wraps arms around USarge's own forearm*

*Turning and pivoting, she lets USarge's own force carry him over her shoulder*

Kenny & Matte: *Cover their eyes with their paws*

---

[ Symka 3, Old Clunker Ship: ]

*Arriving back, Mamimi has been helping Jim put supplies up*

Gene: *Walks past, tugging on a pair of gloves* Hey Jim, hey Mamimi. I'm gonna go see if I can earn enough wong to pay for those upgrades. If you want, Mamimi, you can come along with us to Hei Fon 4.

Mamimi: Hmmm. I'll let Haruko know, next time I see her. She'll get there by herself just fine. *Smiles as she tucks a can into a shelf* Thanks, Gene!

Jim: Gene, make sure you don't let any pretty girls distract you. And don't take anything too dangerous or "manly". We only need 2,300 wong, and we've got all the time in the world to get to Hei Fon 4.

Gene: Yeah, yeah. Don't worry, Jim, I won't pick anything too out there. You worry too much.

Jim: *Sighs heavily* Someone has to, Gene! You don't worry at all!

Gene: Yeah, seeya! *Already out the ship's door*

Jim: *Places a few microwaveable cups of ramen on the shelf* Unbelieveable...

Mamimi: *Keeps quiet, working silently*

~ ~ ~

[ Symka 4, Small Town: ]

*Now, the sun has finally set*

*The group prepares for the Cath Palug to attack*

Namah: *Halo is dimly lit* Is this demon going to attack anytime tonight?

Hilda: Let's not go around tempting fate. *Has a red caster shell ready to fire at any time*

Aisha: Mrrrrrwww...Why are we all together? What if it attacks somewhere else?

Zev: It always comes through here. You're not sneaking off to get foooooh ----!!

*With a yowl, some kind of humanoid shape speeds down the street and lunges towards him*

Zev: *Raises a gloved hand with back outward, presenting a metal disc* Urk!!

*The disc projects a discoid shield of energy, bouncing the creature off*

Hilda: *Loads and fires the caster shell, discharging a bolt of lightning*

Cath Palug?: *Screams in a loud, female voice as she's shocked by the impact*

*As the clouds roll back from the moon, she can be seen to resemble a Kit-Kat - Save with a "bikini" of olive-green fur, black hair, and magenta eyes*

Cath Palug: *Howls, trying to escape the way she came* Rrrgh!?

Aisha: RRRRAAAARRRGGGHHH!! *In Beast Strength form, tackles her broadside*

*The two go to the ground, and begin rolling; whenever one gets on top, they begin slugging the other in the face and trying to claw at their eyes and throat*

Namah: ... *Halo fades* I'm going to hit her if I try to attack.

Hilda: *Lowers blaster* I swear, when she gets like this she's, impossible...

Zev: *Goes from foot to foot, trying to get an attack angle*

*The two catgirls are still going for blood*

-Symka 3-

*USarge went limp as he got flipped, only regaining control in order to roll the landing, gritting his teeth as his arm complained at the awkward stretching from the roll, and twisted his arm in Hanmyo's grip and grabbing onto one of her arms. Meanwhile his other fist went for an uppercut.

He tries to ignore the fact that the two cats face-pawed at his poor performance, with little success*

[ Symka 3, Hanmyo's House: ]

Hanmyo: *Lets herself be pulled down and away from USarge's punch*

*Falling on her arm and laying flat, she smiles at the attacks that USarge has made*

Hanmyo: Good. How about we practice some basics of jujutsu now?

---

[ Symka 3, Spaceship Dock, Jim & Gene's Ship: ]

Jim: *Sat in the too-large Captain's chair, is running a series of diagnostics*

Mamimi: *Kicks her legs from a chair off to the side* Sooo. Everything look good?

Jim: Yep. *Says nothing more, focusing entirely on the task at hand*

Mamimi: *Pouts and stares out the tinted window*

~ ~ ~

[ Symka 4, Battle in Town: ]

*As the Cath Palug rolls on top again, she starts to throttle Aisha*

*However, she finds the Ctarl-Ctarl rolling back and kicking with both legs into her stomach*

*Launched through the air, yowling and spitting, it abruptly finds a set of bolas wrapping its lower-legs and locking together with magnetic weights*

Zev: *Kneels beside her, breathlessly uttering a mantra that can't be heard over the Cath Palug's screeching and snarling*

Cath Palug: *Begins to slow down her fighting, as her screams become intelligible* ...I...HATE HIM!! I HATE HIM I HATE HIM I HATE HIM!! HE TOOK MY NECKLACE AND I HATE HIIIIIIIIIIMMMM!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!! *Bursts into tears*

Zev: *Stunned* Um...Uh...Well...I, uh...Um...Anyone know what's got her so upset?

Aisha: *Snores from her spot on the ground, unconscious from her Beast Strength*

Namah: Nooo idea. *Watches, perplexed, as the Cath Palug continues bawling*

Hilda: ... *Looks back down the street* Melfina, I told you it wasn't safe -

Melfina: *Breathlessly rushes up* Blaidd Mynydd! It's Blaidd Mynydd! He's, he's, hah, hah, hah... *Pants tiredly, a hand over chest*

Hilda: ... *Takes out a PDA* Can you show us what you mean on here, somehow*

Melfina: Hhh, hh, yes, th, thank you, Hilda... *Opens up a panel on wrist, and pulls out a small cord from within* I thought something was wrong back in the restaurant when I thought back to the files I had on Felynn demons, oh if only I'd, I'd, hhhh, hhhh...

Hilda: Calm down, don't talk. *Plugs the cord into the PDA for her* ... *Stares in surprise at the image that comes up, before other fist begins to clench and unclench*

Namah: *Leans over to look, before eyes narrow dangerously* He didn't. That lying sack of ----.

Zev: What, what is - ... *Looks down at the image, and goes completely silent*

*There, in black and white, is an elegantly-wrought necklace with a huge gem in the center*

Melfina: F, F, Felynn pass enchanted, amulets, hh, hh, like this down from mother to daughter...They never give them away to humans, but a necklace like this could easily be worth over a million wong.

Zev: ... *Turns on heel and walks back to the now-sniffling Cath Palug* Can you say for certain that Blaidd Mynydd stole this from you, and has it on him?

Cath Palug: *Snff* *Snff* Ugh, ugh, uh-huh, y, yeah... *Snfff* I, I, I...

Zev: Shhh, shhh, it's okay. *Begins deactivating the bolas* Namah, take Melfina back to the ship and get ready to leave.

Namah: *Lets Melfina lean on her shoulder* Good thinking. Figures she'd have to run from the other side of town. Good job, Melfina.

Melfina: Th, th, thank, you, hhh, hhh... *Begins to catch her breath as she winds the cord back into her wrist and makes her way away with Namah*

Zev: *Has freed the Cath Palug and helped her up* Would you be willing to help us out?

Cath Palug: *Sniffle* Uh-huh... *Rubs eyes* I'm sorry I...Did all those bad things...

Zev: It's okay. You wouldn't have been doing that stuff if you were in control.

Hilda: I spied the place before. Human and Silgrian guards. About twenty.

Zev: They'll need twenty more for it to be a fair fight.

Hilda: *Loads a blaster cartridge* Then let's get moving.

Cath Palug: *Face turns to surprise, then glee*

Zev: Let's go. *Leads the way*

[Dirk's House]

Jack: Aye, matey, we be fresh from Tortuga. We had plenty of Rum an women there. I'll keep that crack about bugs in mind, though. We be here for a venture in profiteering.

*A rambunctious lil midget speaks up*

Marty: Ya saying we here to plunder this twerp? Seems kinda, I don't know, not right?

*A taller, skinny fellow lacking an eye picks up the conversation*

Ragetti: Down right in decent, if ye asks me.

Gibbs: This is rather low of ya, Jack.

Jack: We are not here to plunder, pillage, rob, rape, run with scissors, or murder. At least not this chap. We are here 'cause the compass pointed me here when I wanted 'Adventure'. So, this young man is obviously about to go on one. Am I right in this assumption, Orangey?

-----

[Shinobi Nui]

*Ynot and Blade rollback on to their feet*

Blade: So, how do we know when he will and will not want to transform and or destroy us?

Ynot: I'm betting we don't.

Blade: So how do we fight what we can't touch?

Ynot: *Sigh* Long range fighting. This is why I like Xenophon. He is much better at that sort of thing. So, Mr. Entity, would you mind if I indulged a bit of Nostalgia that arose when you waltzed back into my continuity?

*Ynot holds out his hand and a portal opens above, dropping a pipping hot, steaming Apple Pie*

Ynot: Say 'America'!

*Tosses the pie in EPE's face and runs like hell*

[ Dirk's House, Off the Coast of Miami: ]

*In an instant, the bloodied metal bat is leaned on Dirk's shoulder*

Dirk: My name is not "Orangey." I'm Dirk Strider, and yes, I suppose I'm going to be nearing a great journey soon enough. I might need your all's help when the first wave of Underlings shows up... *Taps bat against the roof*

*Falling silent and staring into space, his body goes stone rigid*

~ ~ ~

[ Symka 3, Spaceship Dock, Gene & Jim's Ship: ]

*At last, Jim and Mamimi have left the ship*

Jim: Alright, Mamimi. Let's go meet this guy and get it over with.

Mamimi: Girl. *Grabs him and starts tugging before he can argue*

Jim: Another girl!? Mamimi, no! Oooh!! If this is the same kind of girl as Haruko I'm never trusting you ever ever again!

Mamimi: Trust me~ she's nothing like Haruko. She's very nice. She's around your age.

Jim: Urrrgh!! I can't believe you went and abused my faith in you like that!

Mamimi: Oh, maliciously. *Already near the exit of the docks*

Jim: *Huffs loudly as he's tugged along*

~ ~ ~

[ Symka 4, Blaidd Mynydd's Mansion: ]

Blaidd: *Clutches the necklace, staring at his office's door*

*In the past few minutes, he's heard shouts, commotion, a huge rustling noise, and finally, the sound of countless thuds and some kinds of less tense cries*

*With a squeak of fear, he hears footsteps coming up the hallway, and a short discussion right outside of his door*

*Abruptly, the door bends inward explosively, and again, and again*

*Finally, the warhammer smashing against his door cracks through, dropping the reinforced barrier to the carpeted floor just inside*

Zev: *Calmly steps inside* Thank you, Aries. *Smiles at the spirit as she follows him, helping her over the cracked and fragmented door*

Aries: Um, you're welcome, master... *Lets the hammer disperse into glowing puffballs, which themselves soon fade into nothing*

Hilda: *Steps in, blaster trained on Blaidd's forehead* We're still open to negotiations.

Blaidd: Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-what is the meaning of this!? I'll - HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!

Cath Palug: *Follows the group in, baring her teeth* I WANT MY NECKLACE!! MY MAMA GAVE IT TO ME!! GIVE IT NOW!!

Blaidd: *Shivers spastically, clutching the necklace tightly* N, n, nnh, nuh, nuh, naaaaah...

Hilda: You're going to return the necklace and give us 500,000 wong. Now.

Blaidd: B, b, b-b-b-b-b, buh -

Cath Palug: *Roars so loudly that the entire mansion shakes*

Blaidd: *Throws the necklace away from himself and onto the desk, wailing as if it burned him*

Cath Palug: *Claws several documents to shreds by accident as she snatches the necklace up*

Hilda: *Keeps the blaster trained as she draws near* Computer open. Bring your bank account up. Arrange 500,000 wong. Sign in "Desperado Enterprises". Send it.

Blaidd: *Hurries to do so* I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry please don't kill me oh God -

Hilda: Sir, if you were sorry, you would have given that necklace back before we had to do this. I can only hope you're ashamed of yourself, or there's no hope for you, you snivelling, avaricious piece of amphibian ----.

Blaidd: *Whimpers quietly, face pale, tears streaming from eyes* ...!!

Aries: ...Master, did you ever...Ever, um...Find...Leo's and Capricorn's keys...?

Zev: *Smiles* As a matter of fact, yes. *Takes out a necklace with four elegant golden keys, each adorned with a sign of the Zodiac: Leo, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Scorpio*

Aries: *Smiles softly* ...That's...That's...Wonder...Fulllll... *Tears bead up in eyes*

Zev: *Takes a handkerchief out of pocket, and holds it out gently*

Aries: *Blows nose with a trumpeting, starting to completely break up with tears*

Zev: There, there. *Starts producing handkerchiefs for her to use from the same pocket like a magic act*

Aries: *Absolutely needs all of them as she silently has herself a good cry*

Cath Palug: Nar? *Watches the two of them, fascinated*