Main Event Fighting of the Spirit

[Sark]

"Yeah I can totally do that," Frank replied to his new best friend. "Just gotta get one of those emblems then, then we can totally be cool and not kill each other by accident."

@Yun Lee

A divided force. A troop MIA. Guy had to admit it. Things could have gone sightly better. Tightening his fist, the Lantern called upon the light of Willpower. All the flare of the light specturm would only be a detriment to their cause. He'd draw too much attention. But even in those simply days on the football field, Guy knew that he was more than a dealer of cheap tricks and Illusion. Since then, he had grown into a master of the emotional spectrum, a master of spirit and light. He wouldn't have come as far as he had if he hadn't taken the time to learn how to keep his head down.

The light that had once tumbled from his emerald ring began to fade, its power crawling deep into its Green Shell. Soon, his coat lost its vibrant glow, its colour fading and fading until it took on a subtle grew tone. Even his skin began to lose its colour. Within moments, his flesh had become one with the sky.

Light was light. Power was power. With a command, his aura had redirected the fleeting beams of light that had once reflected from his person. He had turned his body into a light vacuum, rendering himself invisible.

Parting before him and swarming around him like water, Guy moved through the lights that filled the path before him, a Phantom. Silently, he moved into position behind the Ghost Rider and prepared to follow his lead.

The Hun were eating from the palm of Frank's hands. If Frank's rouse worked, he would remain hidden, and follow the marching party wherever they lead, undetected. If things went south, then a quick Stealth attack might buy the pair some time to retreat, and for Guy conceal Frank in similar vacuum of light.

For now, he'd leave the ball in Frank's court. Things looked promising, but he wasn't about to push it by asking for some extra emblems. He didn't want to place too much faith in the Revanchist's stupidity.

@Yun Lee @Jeremi​

 

[Yun Lee]

Frank (and by extension Guy) were led straight through the crowd by their Hun. The fellow at the table, a surly looking Hun, looked up at the two.

The first nodded at Frank. "Needs an emblem."

The second looked Frank over, to which the first said, "Uniform's being washed."

That got a raised eyebrow, but it appeared the second Hun didn't care much. "Take a seat," he said. "You're lucky we got a few of these left over."

@Jeremi @Sark

---

As Ren walked through, he went unnoticed by the Revanchist forces, blending in quite nicely both in appearance and countenance. A few conversations would catch his ear as he passed through:

-A trio of soldiers cleaning their weapons, talking of "Revan"

-A small gathering of Huns speaking about "The Great Spirit"

-A Hun and soldier looking over their emblems and talking about "Secret Weapons"

Incidentally, he could spot Schala nearby a poker table.

@Kaykay

---

From where Schala stood, she could hear the conversation from the table:

"I'm tellin' you, it doesn't make sense. The boss doesn't take prisoners...and little girls at that."

"You really think the redhead's as powerful as she said? Think she could really kill all of us?"

"Who knows? With The Order, I got no idea what to expect. But the boss seems to think she's worth something..."

"Maybe so, but what about the little girl? Has he told you anything about her?"

"Well, no, but..."

At this point, Schala could either move on or stay and listen a bit longer.

@York

---

Ben would hear the following:

"That guy gives me the creeps..."

"Shan Yu? Yeah. His eyes kinda just bore into you, don't they? My blood runs cold just seeing them."

"Everyone seems to respect him, though. He tells someone to do something and they get it done...even if it seems kinda weird."

"I get why Revan wanted him on his side, then. The man's a natural leader."

"Yeah, but I do wonder about something..."

At this point, Ben could either move on or stay and listen.

@Crow​

 

[Lucky]

Wade Wilson/ Deadpool

" Well, Will's not answering which means she must be dead. I ask if she can hear me or if she was dead and there was no answer, so the only logical conclusion is she turned off her comms or she's dead. Pretty sure, she's dead."


@Yun Lee @HealThyWounds @Atomic Knight @Others

 

[Crow]

Nanomech chooses to stay and listen, a bit curious about where this conversation went. This Shan Yu was the head honcho, and he was intent on learning as much as he can.

@Yun Lee​

 

[Hahli Nuva]

Will sighed and tried to reach out to the other person once more, bending down to place her hands against the mesh to their body. She may have been feeling miserable, but that didn't mean she still wasn't a hero. The Keeper desperatly tried to pull her powers over life forwards, but she recieved no such blessings.

Fustration soon set in. Will gave up trying ot heal the other person and stood up, shuffling until she was leaning against an old pillar.

"Will?"

"What is it?" Will growled.

"Please don't do it." Hay Lin begged softly.

Will clenched her fist so hard her knuckles turned white. "After everything I've been through.."

"It never goes away, Will. The real question is, what are you going to do about it?"

The Keeper remained silent, tears stinging her eyes as she glared at the black void the net provided. Lost in a desolate wasteland, cut off from her friends and powerless to help herself.

@Yun Lee

 

[Yun Lee]

The conversation continued:

"Why hasn't he told us why he's keeping those two locked up? It's like he knows something we don't."

"I mean, don't generals usually know classified information? I wouldn't expect us to know any of it."

"I guess, but all we know is that The Order is somewhere else and that we're just looking for the Great Spirit. But how do we find it just sitting here?"

"I don't..." The soldier paused.

"What is it?"

Listen in more or move on?

@Crow

---

No matter what was attempted, nothing would work. Though there seemed to be no physical injury to the girl in the net. Something else must have been causing her pain.

@Hahli Nuva​

 

[Crow]

The conversation continued:

"Why hasn't he told us why he's keeping those two locked up? It's like he knows something we don't."

"I mean, don't generals usually know classified information? I wouldn't expect us to know any of it."

"I guess, but all we know is that The Order is somewhere else and that we're just looking for the Great Spirit. But how do we find it just sitting here?"

"I don't..." The soldier paused.

"What is it?"

Listen in more or move on?

@Crow

---

No matter what was attempted, nothing would work. Though there seemed to be no physical injury to the girl in the net. Something else must have been causing her pain.

@Hahli Nuva​

With each passing moment, more info was being juiced out. Nanomech was intent on learning what came next. He decides to shrink himself a bit more out of instinct.

@Yun Lee​

 

[Jeremi]

Frank (and by extension Guy) were led straight through the crowd by their Hun. The fellow at the table, a surly looking Hun, looked up at the two.

The first nodded at Frank. "Needs an emblem."

The second looked Frank over, to which the first said, "Uniform's being washed."

That got a raised eyebrow, but it appeared the second Hun didn't care much. "Take a seat," he said. "You're lucky we got a few of these left over."

@Jeremi @Sark

---

As Ren walked through, he went unnoticed by the Revanchist forces, blending in quite nicely both in appearance and countenance. A few conversations would catch his ear as he passed through:

-A trio of soldiers cleaning their weapons, talking of "Revan"

-A small gathering of Huns speaking about "The Great Spirit"

-A Hun and soldier looking over their emblems and talking about "Secret Weapons"

Incidentally, he could spot Schala nearby a poker table.

@Kaykay

---

From where Schala stood, she could hear the conversation from the table:

"I'm tellin' you, it doesn't make sense. The boss doesn't take prisoners...and little girls at that."

"You really think the redhead's as powerful as she said? Think she could really kill all of us?"

"Who knows? With The Order, I got no idea what to expect. But the boss seems to think she's worth something..."

"Maybe so, but what about the little girl? Has he told you anything about her?"

"Well, no, but..."

At this point, Schala could either move on or stay and listen a bit longer.

@York

---

Ben would hear the following:

"That guy gives me the creeps..."

"Shan Yu? Yeah. His eyes kinda just bore into you, don't they? My blood runs cold just seeing them."

"Everyone seems to respect him, though. He tells someone to do something and they get it done...even if it seems kinda weird."

"I get why Revan wanted him on his side, then. The man's a natural leader."

"Yeah, but I do wonder about something..."

At this point, Ben could either move on or stay and listen.

@Crow​

If Frank knew that Guy was following him he didn't show it letting his new pal lead him to get a shiny new emblem.

"What can I say? I'm a messy guy," Frank replied as he sat down. "Watch the leather alright? It's a bit of a antique this suit of mine."
​

@Yun Lee @Sark

 

[Hahli Nuva]

"Taranee, can you reach her mind and see what's hurting her?"

"i'm trying, but it's blocked off. It's like a dead end. I can't feel her heat signature either. Whatever this net is, it's pretty powerful."

"Why can't you cut a Fold open to the outside?"

"The Heart is working overtime just keeping me alive in here. It's powers are dulled within this net, but since it's bonded with my soul I can still use some aspects of it. Like talk with the other Guardians."

"So basically you're stuck."

"That poor girl. Will, if you somehow break free, you need to help her."

Will sighed and tried again to wake the girl, wincing slightly.

@Yun Lee

 

[Yun Lee]

"I know how to work animal hides," the Hun replied, takimg one of the little red emblems and starting to sew it on Frank's jacket. "I can't remember if it's technology or magic that makes these work, but it's a shame we have to use them at all."

@Jeremi @Sark

---

"What's up?"

There was silence on there end. Then suddenly...

"Now!"

All of a sudden, a net fell over the soldier Ben was camping out on. The Omnitrix would give out, bringing Ben back to his normal state, and as it did so the solidier ducked out of the net before it closed up. Both then drew guns on the net

"How in the world did you manage to catch onto that?" One guard asked.

"Infared senses are common in my world," the other replied. "Even with him being so small, I was still able to detect something. And he'd gotten smaller just now, confirming it." He grabbed the net on one side, motioning for his companion to do the same. "Come on, let's toss him in with the others."

Ben was dragged over to Shan Yu, who grinned. "Let me guess...one of those allies she spoke of?"

"Most likely. We caught him listening in on our conversation."

"Oh my...I certainly hope the two of you weren't talking about anything too important." Though he said it rather sarcastically, the two guards shrunk back in the presence of their topic of conversation. "Well, it doesn't matter anyway. He won't be relaying the information to anyone."

Down in the hold, the girl didn't answer. But someone did, looming over the Guardian.

View attachment 3951

"Will...don't you get it? The Heart can't break through the net."

Another joined her.

View attachment 3952

"You can try to communicate with your friends, but they haven't heard a word you said."

And another.

View attachment 3953

"You have nothing down here, Will. Nothing. You're alone."

And another.

View attachment 3954

"Your friends, your allies...they've all abandoned you."

All of them spoke as one now.

"Powerless, alone, deserted by everyone..."

The four girls turned into shadowy wisps, merging into one form. An all-too-familiar face, grinning down at Will.

"You're going to die here."

Nerissa laughed maniacally, fading into pulsing black energy that shook Will to the core just as the shadows among the plants had. Though Nerissa was gone, her laughter echoed through the room, fading away only as another net tumbled down into the building beside Will.

@Crow @Hahli Nuva​

 

[Lucky]

Wade Wilson/ Deadpool

Wade who had been listening in on the comms would look over at the others. " It sounds like Ben got himself captured. Yo, Ben, can you hear me still? Also, is Will's corpse near you? Because she didn't pick up her comm."

@Crow @Yun Lee @Comms man

 

[Crow]

"I know how to work animal hides," the Hun replied, takimg one of the little red emblems and starting to sew it on Frank's jacket. "I can't remember if it's technology or magic that makes these work, but it's a shame we have to use them at all."

@Jeremi @Sark

---

"What's up?"

There was silence on there end. Then suddenly...

"Now!"

All of a sudden, a net fell over the soldier Ben was camping out on. The Omnitrix would give out, bringing Ben back to his normal state, and as it did so the solidier ducked out of the net before it closed up. Both then drew guns on the net

"How in the world did you manage to catch onto that?" One guard asked.

"Infared senses are common in my world," the other replied. "Even with him being so small, I was still able to detect something. And he'd gotten smaller just now, confirming it." He grabbed the net on one side, motioning for his companion to do the same. "Come on, let's toss him in with the others."

Ben was dragged over to Shan Yu, who grinned. "Let me guess...one of those allies she spoke of?"

"Most likely. We caught him listening in on our conversation."

"Oh my...I certainly hope the two of you weren't talking about anything too important." Though he said it rather sarcastically, the two guards shrunk back in the presence of their topic of conversation. "Well, it doesn't matter anyway. He won't be relaying the information to anyone."

Down in the hold, the girl didn't answer. But someone did, looming over the Guardian.

View attachment 3951

"Will...don't you get it? The Heart can't break through the net."

Another joined her.

View attachment 3952

"You can try to communicate with your friends, but they haven't heard a word you said."

And another.

View attachment 3953

"You have nothing down here, Will. Nothing. You're alone."

And another.

View attachment 3954

"Your friends, your allies...they've all abandoned you."

All of them spoke as one now.

"Powerless, alone, deserted by everyone..."

The four girls turned into shadowy wisps, merging into one form. An all-too-familiar face, grinning down at Will.

"You're going to die here."

Nerissa laughed maniacally, fading into pulsing black energy that shook Will to the core just as the shadows among the plants had. Though Nerissa was gone, her laughter echoed through the room, fading away only as another net tumbled down into the building beside Will.

@Crow @Hahli Nuva​

As soon as the first half of 'now' was said, Nanomech quickly tossed a hand-proportional red-white spherical object to the front at full speed, performing a downwards curve toss, and hopefully, it miraculously landed in the pocket of someone, or even sunk into the gaps of a Hun's clothing, likely before the net could catch it. If he failed and the sphere was caught in the net which would cause it to grow back to a proper baseball-size as well, he would swiftly keep the sphere before anyone noticed.

Cue to the jiggies to proceed.

"Oh wow, you're uglier up close," Ben taunts Shan Yu, then shifts to an angrier face and tone. "But I swear, when I get out, I am so going Humungousaur to crush you and your namby pamby party! Or maybe Way Big to tear this place apart with my foot alone! Or even Alien X to make sure this place doesn't even have a planet to stand on!"

As Shan Yu watches, Ben attempts to use his Omnitrix, shifting through some very formiddable looking holograms and slamming his watch down at each turn. If one with knowledge of different universes looked carefully, they would notice that a few of the holograms had sapient species that did not share home universes - Zora, Saiyans, Neuroi and even the formiddable Kryptonians that were distinguished from humans by the Kryptonian emblem of hope on the outfit depicted on the hologram.

"Heatblast? Water Hazard? Spidermonkey? Jury Rigg? I wouldn't mind Molestache right now. Anyone in there? Ugh, over a hundred and counting superpowered aliens to turn into and I'm stuck as boring old Ben. Not the first time, but still..."

It was only after he said that in which he was dragged away from Shan Yu and into the dungeons. Shan Yu heard every bit of dialogue Ben Tennyson said before this.

Dungeon time!

Ben tuned in to his commlink.

"Well, Nanomech turned out to be a terrible idea. Seriously? How do you infra-red a guy who's smaller than a water bear? Schala will not be happy... soooo, how's your day going? And how's your day going, other person I've never met? That bad huh? Yeah, I know.

Oh, Deadpool, you're still there... yeah, she's in one piece. We better gap our convo before the guards suspect something."

@Yun Lee @Hahli Nuva

@Lucky (commlink)​

 

[Atomic Knight]

"We should head out immediately," Ludger said, once it seemed up in the air whether the other group was in a critical position or not. "It should take us under an hour if we're quick to reach them."

"I can transport you there," Patel said. "I just needed some of you here so that you knew what was at stake. My sister is my twin, and so she looks like I do and has command over this realm like I do. However, the Revanchist have the means to make even us de-powered. That is the situation my sister is in."

Eleanor really didn't like these guys, but she sympathized with Patel's plight. "We'll rescue your sister." She looked around at the group. "Is everyone ready?"

@Crimson Spartan @HealThyWounds @Space_Candy @Lucky @Gummi Bunnies @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Jackythejack @Yun Lee @MelodyMeister @Minerva @Donder172​

 

[Yun Lee]

The good news was, Ben's sphere managed to evade the net with no problem. The bad news was that it narrowly missed the nearest body, falling to the gray earth below. Here's hoping it survived.

Shan Yu only listened to Ben with light amusement. "What is it with you children and your smart mouths? Mystics are all talk but are incapable of standing their ground when their smokescreens and illusions are taken away. When the rest of your cult comes knocking, we'll be more than prepared for them."

He lifted up the net. "I only hope you live long enough to see it...Ben."

And that was when he fell in.

@Crow @Hahli Nuva

---

"UGH! BEN!! You got captured too?!" One was bad enough, but two? That was just embarrassing! If only Severa were there, she...

...well, honestly she would probably get captured pretty quick. But no one else needed to think that.

"O-Of course we're ready!" Severa quickly distracted herself with the prospect of battle. "Let's go kick some Revanchist butt!"

@Atomic Knight @Ver @Lucky @Everyone​

 

[Lucky]

Wade Wilson/Deadpool

" Okay, got it. We are coming to you with the Order lady's help. Hopefully, nothing will go wrong," he replied with a smile on his face. He adjusted Quentin to be more comfortable for the teleport.

@Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Ver @Everyone

 

[Crow]

"Yeah! Like you have smokescreens and illusions of your own!" Ben's tone shifts to a smug one. "But you know... big guy... for a tribe of the toughest warriors, you sure are using things to outright weaken your opponents that would imply that you're... well... not the toughest. Just saying man. Now I don't mean any offense, it's OK to accept your flaws and find ways to compensate for them."

And then he fell.

"Wooooaaaah!"

Deadpool and Severa could hear this if you're wondering.

@Lucky @Yun Lee @Hahli Nuva

---

The ball, still extremely small, shook a bit. It had very limited movement, but it should be enough. Among the storming crowd of COVERED feet, it rolled and positioned itself to stick under the fuzziness of a Hun's woolly fur boots where it would not move for a good long while.

Whatever technology was used to build this sphere was shielding any possible signs of life or heat from being detected on the inside by advanced technologies. If whatever might be inside came out, that was another story.

@Yun Lee​

 

[Atomic Knight]

Patel nodded, signaling for the environment to begin shifting and changing. Black tendrils snaked around the group and caused the Order members to disappear, then the factory's walls enclosed on the group until they were packed together, shoulder to shoulder. The walls changed to a clean metallic surface and expanded outward. A haze settled over the group, obscuring their vision. A strange, unsettling feeling rooted itself deep inside everyone's head.

"Something's wrong," Ludger said, his voice sounding distant. He looked around himself but saw nothing he recognized. A sound began to emit from far away, coming closer and closer. Once it was close enough, it was definitely the sound of a shrill alarm. The haze then lifted, revealing a room bathed in a dim light. In front of the group was some kind of pod, big enough to fit an adult human.

Eleanor gasped. "Who are you?!"

She was looking at a man who was standing behind the group. He did not respond to her and only stared.

@Crimson Spartan @HealThyWounds @Space_Candy @Lucky @Gummi Bunnies @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Jackythejack @Yun Lee @MelodyMeister @Minerva @Donder172​

 

[Lucky]

Wade Wilson/ Deadpool

" So, uhhh... I don't like this. Hi, can you talk?" He asked the younger man.

@Atomic Knight

 

[Hahli Nuva]

"I know how to work animal hides," the Hun replied, takimg one of the little red emblems and starting to sew it on Frank's jacket. "I can't remember if it's technology or magic that makes these work, but it's a shame we have to use them at all."

@Jeremi @Sark

---

"What's up?"

There was silence on there end. Then suddenly...

"Now!"

All of a sudden, a net fell over the soldier Ben was camping out on. The Omnitrix would give out, bringing Ben back to his normal state, and as it did so the solidier ducked out of the net before it closed up. Both then drew guns on the net

"How in the world did you manage to catch onto that?" One guard asked.

"Infared senses are common in my world," the other replied. "Even with him being so small, I was still able to detect something. And he'd gotten smaller just now, confirming it." He grabbed the net on one side, motioning for his companion to do the same. "Come on, let's toss him in with the others."

Ben was dragged over to Shan Yu, who grinned. "Let me guess...one of those allies she spoke of?"

"Most likely. We caught him listening in on our conversation."

"Oh my...I certainly hope the two of you weren't talking about anything too important." Though he said it rather sarcastically, the two guards shrunk back in the presence of their topic of conversation. "Well, it doesn't matter anyway. He won't be relaying the information to anyone."

Down in the hold, the girl didn't answer. But someone did, looming over the Guardian.

View attachment 3951

"Will...don't you get it? The Heart can't break through the net."

Another joined her.

View attachment 3952

"You can try to communicate with your friends, but they haven't heard a word you said."

And another.

View attachment 3953

"You have nothing down here, Will. Nothing. You're alone."

And another.

View attachment 3954

"Your friends, your allies...they've all abandoned you."

All of them spoke as one now.

"Powerless, alone, deserted by everyone..."

The four girls turned into shadowy wisps, merging into one form. An all-too-familiar face, grinning down at Will.

"You're going to die here."

Nerissa laughed maniacally, fading into pulsing black energy that shook Will to the core just as the shadows among the plants had. Though Nerissa was gone, her laughter echoed through the room, fading away only as another net tumbled down into the building beside Will.

@Crow @Hahli Nuva​

Will was perplexed by her friends switching stances so quickly, moving from encouraging words to outright venom and death threats. She didn't have time to ask before the all too familiar visage of Nerissa filled the void and consumed her friends.

Will tried to call upon Quintessence to attack her old enemy, only to remember that she was powerless and trapped. It seemed her predecesor's words were all too true.

Then it hit. The most unholy and painful experience Will had encountered since Othinus, much of the same feelings surfacing as the dark magic racked her body. The Heart tried to protect her where it could, but the damage was still done. Wether this was an attack by Nerissa herself or the enemies who cpatured her, Will couldn't think straight as she was spiritually and mentally assaulted. The illusion may have simply faded away, but to Will it was like that was just the start to a nuclear explosion of evil energy.

Will screamed in bloodcurdling agony as her flesh charred and bones crackled under the malevolence. Few attacks could fell a powerful warrior like Kandrakar's Guardians, but for The Keeper, nothing was more potent and deadly than Aether's evil equivelant, Malevolence. Normally, Will would be able to resist the effects better, but powerless and in her base form she was helpless.

She didn't even hear Ben's arrival, slumping to her hands and knees when the attack was mercifully over. Will bit back tears as her blessing started to repair her body from the inside, the torn muscles and burned marrow were the first to heal.

Nerissa was right. This room could hold all of the people she ever called friends in her life and she'd still be as alone as ever.

@Yun Lee @Crow

 

[Crow]

As Ben looks at Will, he allows the miasma and despair of Silent Earth seep into him as he digs up thoughts of some of his greatest enemies who bested him previously - Vilgax, Aggregor, Khyber, Ghostfreak, and then some.

"You got anything to say?"

@Hahli Nuva

@Yun Lee​