Side Story Champions of the Arena II: The Hunt

[Sark]

"Ugh!" Damn it! If he wasn't careful, Sean would be completely without aid. He couldn't let that happen. But there was something...wrong about this whole thing. Something sinister. What had happened to Dengar...this wasn't ordinary magic. As a matter of fact...hadn't that man in the vault done the exact same thing? What was going on? Why weren't the dead staying dead?!

Though that recollection reminded him of something. That woman had beaten the man until there was nothing. So he, too, would need to leave nothing left of Dengar. Yashamaru sped forward, utilizing his Tengu blood to reach inhuman speeds once more, before making a diagonal slash at Dengar. If he could just reduce him to pieces beyond salvaging...!

@Sark @Atomic Knight​

Dengar unleashed his charged shot, but he only succeeded in burning Yash’s after image.
“Bastard!” He turned, turning around on the spot. He lined his blaster’s barrel up with Yashamaru’s head. He commanded his finger to pull the trigger. It refused, succumbing to Rigor Morris.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!”
The top half of Dengar slid off of its lower half. Yasha’s lightsaber has successfully cleaved the Hunter in two.
“Think y’ve won?” Dengar spat, drawing towards his blaster with his one still-attached arm. “This is over you stinking turd—“

Before he could reach his weapon, a metallic claw crushed his hand. Blade Wolf twisted his paw, shattering Dengar’s fingers. Instead of crying out in pain, he simply cursed an old huttese curse. Prototype placed another paw down upon the Hunter’s blaster.

[Target has been neutralised. P.O.I.s are safe. Mission complete]

@Yun Lee @Atomic Knight​

 

[Yun Lee]

"...good boy." Breathing hard, Yashamaru caught his breath, before walking to the body. He needed to be sure...taking Shanao back, he would attempt to drive it through Dengar's skull. "Hell can wait for me," he muttered. "The living still need me yet."

@Sark @Atomic Knight​

 

[0ttonomous]

Kayn and Rhaast
@Sark @Jeremi @Ottonomous Ghost @Gummi Bunnies @Vault​

"Look..." Chuck shifted his feet. He dissected the room in search of cameras. Good. The lightning bolt had friend them all. Looks those storm clouds had silver linings after all... "The guy who hired me is... reasonable. He's got connections. Word around the safe house is that there's someone in the city capable of shutting down Tormo's explosives. He was going to sell me that information in exchange for the Diamond. There's not much in this vault worth selling- everything the lightning didn't destroy was gutted by that ninja guy. But, with Vamp's bounty I'm sure we can bribe him. The guys at the safe house... we're all running missions. Trying to pool our resources. If you want to get off this rock, working with us is you're best shot. It's not safe. It's not legal. But it beats crawling back to your boss empty handed."

"...Really?" Kayn responded, furrowing his eyebrows. He wanted to ask how that was possible (considering that the bombs were planted in everyone's brains), but he didn't want to make his lack of knowledge obvious. "Well, that certainly sounds promising," he continued, stretching his arms, "I guess the simple wish of teleporting back home is too convenient to be true. As long as I don't have a time bomb in me, I don't mind staying here a little longer. Just means more time to plan an attack on Tormo."​

"Things would've turned out perfectly fine," Forst snapped. "If you hadn't shoved it down your dress and started beating chests with this nutbar!"

"This nutbar has a name." Chuck grumbled.

"Stay out of this!" Frost shot a finger in the survivor's direction, before glaring back at Bad Girl. "If you acted like an adult for five minutes maybe we'd have a better shot at surviving this thing!" He fired a small blast of Ki at Bad Girl's drink, sending it flying out of her hand. "Aren't you drunk enough already? We've barely been here for a day and I don't think I've seen you sober for more than 5 minutes since we arrived! I'm sorry that we didn't 'heed your warnings', your majesty!" Frost hissed sarcastically. "Maybe if you were something more than a sadistic, washed up, hyper-violent, word-slurring alcoholic MANIAC we might've listened!"

There was a tiny bit of beer that was sent flying as the ki blast hit the can. "Can't shoot fucking lasers, huh?" Bad Girl replied before wiping her mouth. "You're a whiny little bitch, ya know that? Probably the strongest motherfucker here and what the fuck have you done all the time? Whine whine whine whine whine whine whine whine whine whine! Get your shit together you fucking pussy! Maybe don't act so fucking tough when you've been acting like a pissboy slave this entire time!"

As for Chuck, that didn't sound half bad. "Yeah, sure that sounds amazing." She then kicked some of the coins around. "I don't need no fucking handouts! I'm a working girl and I get my own cash! Lead the way frosty tips!"

Kayn wasn't quite sure what to do about Bad Girl. She wasn't a bad fighter, but she was also too unpredictable, foul-mannered, and hypocritical. It would probably be wise to kick her out of the group: make things easier for everyone. "I'm not sure what you want to do about her, Frost, but it's your call. I doubt anyone would want her in this mysterious 'Safe House.'"

​

 

[Jeremi]

Kayn and Rhaast
@Sark @Jeremi @Ottonomous Ghost @Gummi Bunnies @Vault

"...Really?" Kayn responded, furrowing his eyebrows. He wanted to ask how that was possible (considering that the bombs were planted in everyone's brains), but he didn't want to make his lack of knowledge obvious. "Well, that certainly sounds promising," he continued, stretching his arms, "I guess the simple wish of teleporting back home is too convenient to be true. As long as I don't have a time bomb in me, I don't mind staying here a little longer. Just means more time to plan an attack on Tormo."


Kayn wasn't quite sure what to do about Bad Girl. She wasn't a bad fighter, but she was also too unpredictable, foul-mannered, and hypocritical. It would probably be wise to kick her out of the group: make things easier for everyone. "I'm not sure what you want to do about her, Frost, but it's your call. I doubt anyone would want her in this mysterious 'Safe House.'"

​

"Oh, it's his call? Is he going to finally do something?" Bad Girl snapped at Kayn. "I can just walk the fuck away if that's what you want! You're going to be fucked over when you get into another fight but, oops! Can't say I care too fucking much. On top of the fact that I'm pretty fucking sure you're not going to find anyone else in this group but me who wants to beat the shit out of Tormo, so have fun trying to figure that out too!"

@Sark @Jeremi @Ottonomous Ghost @Gummi Bunnies @Vault

 

[Sark]

"...good boy." Breathing hard, Yashamaru caught his breath, before walking to the body. He needed to be sure...taking Shanao back, he would attempt to drive it through Dengar's skull. "Hell can wait for me," he muttered. "The living still need me yet."

@Sark @Atomic Knight

ROOFTOPS
And with that decisive strike, Dengar finally died...

Again...

"As happy as I am to see that fool die..." Gen hummed groggily. "I feel as a strong lead was lost with him..."

The Devil of Hong Kong slowly tried to sit up. He creased his face and bared his teeth as his body straightened up, his wounded abdomen screaming with pain.

"It's not every day that the dead return to us... Such a pity the fate chose Dengar as its champion..."

With a puff of excursion, Gen fell back down onto his back, overwhelmed. A siren roared in the distance. The City's authorities were closing in. The Hunting parties were no doubt racing in their wake.

"Ah... So this is how it ends..." He tutted to himself. "It's a shame. I had been hoping for something more..."

Gen slowly closed his eyes and smiled.

"Then again, things could always be worse. Dying here, with a friend by my side. There are worse ways to go..."

Gen fumbled with his bloody collar.

Account Owner- Gen
Credits Transferred-
Previous Balance: 511,000
Current Balance: 0

Account Owner- Yashamaru
Credits Received-
Previous Balance- 501,000
Current Balance, 1,012,000

"I need you to do something for me now, young man," Gen smiled warmly, his eyes glowing despite the pain. "It's going to be difficult, but it needs to be done. The Hunting Parties will be upon us in a matter of minutes. Even with that... machine, by your side, even with that fancy sword, even will yours skills and your speed... you can't kill them all. You need to leave me, now."

"I loath myself for asking this of you, my friend. With a wound such as this, I am nothing but a sitting target. I'm bait, just as Dengar envisioned. To move is to bleed out. To walk is to die."
View attachment 6097
"Yashamaru. You need to kill me. It's the only way to keep the bounty out of their hands... the only way. Worry not, friend. I'm an old soul. Death doesn't scare me. Not anymore."

@Yun Lee @Atomic Knight

"...Really?" Kayn responded, furrowing his eyebrows. He wanted to ask how that was possible (considering that the bombs were planted in everyone's brains), but he didn't want to make his lack of knowledge obvious. "Well, that certainly sounds promising," he continued, stretching his arms, "I guess the simple wish of teleporting back home is too convenient to be true. As long as I don't have a time bomb in me, I don't mind staying here a little longer. Just means more time to plan an attack on Tormo."


Kayn wasn't quite sure what to do about Bad Girl. She wasn't a bad fighter, but she was also too unpredictable, foul-mannered, and hypocritical. It would probably be wise to kick her out of the group: make things easier for everyone. "I'm not sure what you want to do about her, Frost, but it's your call. I doubt anyone would want her in this mysterious 'Safe House.'"

"Oh, it's his call? Is he going to finally do something?" Bad Girl snapped at Kayn. "I can just walk the fuck away if that's what you want! You're going to be fucked over when you get into another fight but, oops! Can't say I care too fucking much. On top of the fact that I'm pretty fucking sure you're not going to find anyone else in this group but me who wants to beat the shit out of Tormo, so have fun trying to figure that out too!"

@Sark @Jeremi @Ottonomous Ghost @Gummi Bunnies @Vault

"You'd be hard pressed to find an ass on Prudence that doesn't want to beat the shit out of Tormo." Chuck smirked. "He's got District A in his pocket, sure. But half of the Big-Wigs down there would happily kick him out and take his place. District B and C play his game out of necessity. It's hunt or starve in some parts of town. There are some folks around here who are happy to lend a hand to the Hunted. If Tormo starts to look weak, you can bet that number's gonna grow. I doubt losing the bank has helped his approval ratings, that much I know..."

"Well..." Frost hummed, taken back by the alien authority that had just been bestowed upon him. "I... uh..."
View attachment 6100
"If it's up to me, I say we--"

Before Frost could pass judgement, a sudden wave of nausea washed over Bad Girl. To her, the room was starting to spin. Down was up and up was down. Her stomach was doing somersaults. A shiver ran down her spine.

For a moment, she black out. Compelled by instinct, Frost rushed to her side, catching her before she could strike the floor. A second later, she came to, but her symptoms had only grown more sever.

"W-w-what's happening to her?" Frost stammered. "Is she sick?"

"I... I don't know..." Chuck muttered. He cautiously approached Charlotte's side. "It's not any sickness I've seen..."

Without a moment's hesitation, Chuck scooped up Bad Girl and flung her over his shoulder.

"What are you--?"

"She's coming back to the Safe House with us."

"But I thought we agreed that I--"

"I'm making the call for you. We're not letting her go out like this. We have some medicine back at the safe house. Hold the door, kid. We're leaving!"

"Fine! Just... let me help!"

***
Safe House
The road to the Safe House was quick and quiet. After a short journey up an old fire escape, the apartment was nothing but a short rooftop run away.
The Safe House was a storey taller than most of the other buildings on the block. A single window faced out onto rooftop. Through it, the Hunted could see a young girl sitting with her legs up on a couch, watching TV. As they approached the window, she pointed a sub-machine gun in their direction. She barely pulled her eyes way from the screen.
View attachment 6102
"If you're another one of those 'Hunting Party 9' pricks I swear to God," She groaned. "You don't want to find out where I can shove this thing... Christ..."

"Katy! Off the couch!" Chuck yelled. "Go get Samatoki!"

"Dad?!" Katy leaped to her feet in confusion. She tossed her gun across the counch and ran towards the window. "Who's--"

"Don't ask, just go get him!" With a nod, Katy turned and ran down the hall, crying out for a 'Mr.HC'. Chuck and Frost clumsily passed Bad Girl's body through the window and set her down on the couch.

"Medicine Cabinet?" Frost snapped desperately.

"In the bathroom. Down the hall and to the right."

"Thank you." Frost bowed and ran down the hall.

A moment later, Samatoki emerged from a staircase at the end of the hall. He pushed past Frost and made his way into the communal room.
View attachment 6104
"Remember when this was a secret safe house?" He moaned, rolling a cigarette around in his mouth. The Hunted would notice that Mr.HC wasn't wearing a collar. "Who have you brought in now?"

"Another Hunted. Doesn't matter. She sick-"

Samatoki grabbed Bad Girl's face and yanked it about a bit.

"Has she been shot, Chuckie?"

"No, she--"

"Then what am I supposed to do?" He groaned. "I patch up holes in people. Its self-explanatory work. Disease control isn't exactly my area of expertise. You better not have brought some bio hazard into the Safe House, Chuckie. Not another one, anyway..."

Chuck tightened his fingers until his knuckles burned right.

"It's a just joke, don't take it so seriously... dumbass..." Samatoki sighed. "She's hot to touch and she's nauseous. She'll probably cook herself to death. I've got some Cyro-packs in the bathroom. They might help slow down the effects of whatever's made her like this..."

"'Whatever's made her like this?"

"She's been poisoned. I saw something like this back in the Yakuza. Hell, I used something like this back in the Yakuza..."

@Jeremi @Ottonomous Ghost @Gummi Bunnies​

 

[Capri]

NARANCIA
@Sark @Jeremi @Takumi

Narancia smiled at the King, somewhat relieved that he was friendly.

“I can’t drink, too young,” Narancia said in response to the King’s whiskey offer. Still, the boy remained amicable.

While Eight Hearts and Chise were talking to the King, Narancia’s gaze transfixed on the hunter that he was following earlier with Ventress, or the general area around him.

He is an unknown variable. He knew Eights, Chise & Ventress were allies at the moment, and Allison and Juri were enemies, this man was unknown.

Narancia didn’t retract Aerosmith, it merely hovered over where the unknown hunter was.​

 

[Lucky]

Allison Argent

Allison looked at the guards and her shoulder would finally experience the pain of being exerted while shot. She would grab it with a free hand. “don’t think it matters if I drop them or sheathe them. I don’t think I’ll be shooting anytime soon. I actually don’t even care about the king being killed..... that being said, Cluth does need to die....”

@Sark

 

[Yun Lee]

"The same thing happened in the vault," Yaahamaru said. "Another came to life right after being slain. But even so..." He cleaned his blade on the uniform he still wore, before lumbering over to Gen. "I doubt Dengar would've taught much. All he would've done with his second life was take more."

But then Yashamaru felt a sharp pain in his chest, but not caused by any weapon. He hadn't known the old man long, but he knew Gen to be an honorable and wise man. The two of them had wanted to look out for each other, allies in an abyssmal situation. He wished things could have gone differently. But that was just life, wasn't it?

"I'd like to thank you," he said. "For everything. You are a valued ally, and a friend, no matter how short our time together was. I won't forget you." He dressed back into his armor, not wanting to take the life of a warrior like Gen in some torn up guard uniform that meant nothing now that the bank was demolished. "I'll not let this go to waste. We'll get out of here, I promise. As for you..." He swallowed down a lump in his throat. "I'll at least make it painless."

SNAP!

Yashamaru would snap Gen's neck, and say a silent prayer. He wasn't sure if the words of a sinner like him would mean anything, but...it was worth a try. From there, he needed to move. First, he took whatever he could off Dengar, ensuring his weapons wouldn't fall into the wrong hands. He'd give Sean the guns, not knowing how they worked, himself. He was satisfied with Shanao and the saber. Then, he'd take a bag off the corpse and pack up their gold. They'd need to convert it into credits, but the more pressing matter was treating these wounds. "We need to move out," he said, once more dividing whatever credits he was given between Sean and himself. "We need to find somewhere to treat my injuries before I'm the one needing to be..." He didn't say more after that. But the sirens were getting closer. It was time to go.

@Sark @Atomic Knight​

 

[Jeremi]

ROOFTOPS
And with that decisive strike, Dengar finally died...

Again...

"As happy as I am to see that fool die..." Gen hummed groggily. "I feel as a strong lead was lost with him..."

The Devil of Hong Kong slowly tried to sit up. He creased his face and bared his teeth as his body straightened up, his wounded abdomen screaming with pain.

"It's not every day that the dead return to us... Such a pity the fate chose Dengar as its champion..."

With a puff of excursion, Gen fell back down onto his back, overwhelmed. A siren roared in the distance. The City's authorities were closing in. The Hunting parties were no doubt racing in their wake.

"Ah... So this is how it ends..." He tutted to himself. "It's a shame. I had been hoping for something more..."

Gen slowly closed his eyes and smiled.

"Then again, things could always be worse. Dying here, with a friend by my side. There are worse ways to go..."

Gen fumbled with his bloody collar.

Account Owner- Gen
Credits Transferred-
Previous Balance: 511,000
Current Balance: 0

Account Owner- Yashamaru
Credits Received-
Previous Balance- 501,000
Current Balance, 552,000

"I need you to do something for me now, young man," Gen smiled warmly, his eyes glowing despite the pain. "It's going to be difficult, but it needs to be done. The Hunting Parties will be upon us in a matter of minutes. Even with that... machine, by your side, even with that fancy sword, even will yours skills and your speed... you can't kill them all. You need to leave me, now."

"I loath myself for asking this of you, my friend. With a wound such as this, I am nothing but a sitting target. I'm bait, just as Dengar envisioned. To move is to bleed out. To walk is to die."
View attachment 6097
"Yashamaru. You need to kill me. It's the only way to keep the bounty out of their hands... the only way. Worry not, friend. I'm an old soul. Death doesn't scare me. Not anymore."

@Yun Lee @Atomic Knight


"You'd be hard pressed to find an ass on Prudence that doesn't want to beat the shit out of Tormo." Chuck smirked. "He's got District A in his pocket, sure. But half of the Big-Wigs down there would happily kick him out and take his place. District B and C play his game out of necessity. It's hunt or starve in some parts of town. There are some folks around here who are happy to lend a hand to the Hunted. If Tormo starts to look weak, you can bet that number's gonna grow. I doubt losing the bank has helped his approval ratings, that much I know..."

"Well..." Frost hummed, taken back by the alien authority that had just been bestowed upon him. "I... uh..."
View attachment 6100
"If it's up to me, I say we--"

Before Frost could pass judgement, a sudden wave of nausea washed over Bad Girl. To her, the room was starting to spin. Down was up and up was down. Her stomach was doing somersaults. A shiver ran down her spine.

For a moment, she black out. Compelled by instinct, Frost rushed to her side, catching her before she could strike the floor. A second later, she came to, but her symptoms had only grown more sever.

"W-w-what's happening to her?" Frost stammered. "Is she sick?"

"I... I don't know..." Chuck muttered. He cautiously approached Charlotte's side. "It's not any sickness I've seen..."

Without a moment's hesitation, Chuck scooped up Bad Girl and flung her over his shoulder.

"What are you--?"

"She's coming back to the Safe House with us."

"But I thought we agreed that I--"

"I'm making the call for you. We're not letting her go out like this. We have some medicine back at the safe house. Hold the door, kid. We're leaving!"

"Fine! Just... let me help!"

***
Safe House
The road to the Safe House was quick and quiet. After a short journey up an old fire escape, the apartment was nothing but a short rooftop run away.
The Safe House was a storey taller than most of the other buildings on the block. A single window faced out onto rooftop. Through it, the Hunted could see a young girl sitting with her legs up on a couch, watching TV. As they approached the window, she pointed a sub-machine gun in their direction. She barely pulled her eyes way from the screen.
View attachment 6102
"If you're another one of those 'Hunting Party 9' pricks I swear to God," She groaned. "You don't want to find out where I can shove this thing... Christ..."

"Katy! Off the couch!" Chuck yelled. "Go get Samatoki!"

"Dad?!" Katy leaped to her feet in confusion. She tossed her gun across the counch and ran towards the window. "Who's--"

"Don't ask, just go get him!" With a nod, Katy turned and ran down the hall, crying out for a 'Mr.HC'. Chuck and Frost clumsily passed Bad Girl's body through the window and set her down on the couch.

"Medicine Cabinet?" Frost snapped desperately.

"In the bathroom. Down the hall and to the right."

"Thank you." Frost bowed and ran down the hall.

A moment later, Samatoki emerged from a staircase at the end of the hall. He pushed past Frost and made his way into the communal room.
View attachment 6104
"Remember when this was a secret safe house?" He moaned, rolling a cigarette around in his mouth. The Hunted would notice that Mr.HC wasn't wearing a collar. "Who have you brought in now?"

"Another Hunted. Doesn't matter. She sick-"

Samatoki grabbed Bad Girl's face and yanked it about a bit.

"Has she been shot, Chuckie?"

"No, she--"

"Then what am I supposed to do?" He groaned. "I patch up holes in people. Its self-explanatory work. Disease control isn't exactly my area of expertise. You better not have brought some bio hazard into the Safe House, Chuckie. Not another one, anyway..."

Chuck tightened his fingers until his knuckles burned right.

"It's a just joke, don't take it so seriously... dumbass..." Samatoki sighed. "She's hot to touch and she's nauseous. She'll probably cook herself to death. I've got some Cyro-packs in the bathroom. They might help slow down the effects of whatever's made her like this..."

"'Whatever's made her like this?"

"She's been poisoned. I saw something like this back in the Yakuza. Hell, I used something like this back in the Yakuza..."

@Jeremi @Ottonomous Ghost @Gummi Bunnies​

"W-who gave you permission to be so...grabby hands...perv?" Bad Girl slurred as the "doctor" checked up on her. She tried to lift her arms to punch the big blurb standing over her but she didn't have the strength to lift them. "I'm not...gonna go out...like a fucking punk ass BITCH!" Bad Girl tried as she might but her entire body failed her when she tried to move. "Hotter then a... zebras cooch in her..." She remembered one thing she used to do when her entire body ached. "Ice bath..." She mumbled. "Dunk me in a fucking ice bath."

@Sark @Ottonomous Ghost @Gummi Bunnies

 

[Sark]

"The same thing happened in the vault," Yaahamaru said. "Another came to life right after being slain. But even so..." He cleaned his blade on the uniform he still wore, before lumbering over to Gen. "I doubt Dengar would've taught much. All he would've done with his second life was take more."

But then Yashamaru felt a sharp pain in his chest, but not caused by any weapon. He hadn't known the old man long, but he knew Gen to be an honorable and wise man. The two of them had wanted to look out for each other, allies in an abyssmal situation. He wished things could have gone differently. But that was just life, wasn't it?

"I'd like to thank you," he said. "For everything. You are a valued ally, and a friend, no matter how short our time together was. I won't forget you." He dressed back into his armor, not wanting to take the life of a warrior like Gen in some torn up guard uniform that meant nothing now that the bank was demolished. "I'll not let this go to waste. We'll get out of here, I promise. As for you..." He swallowed down a lump in his throat. "I'll at least make it painless."

SNAP!

Yashamaru would snap Gen's neck, and say a silent prayer. He wasn't sure if the words of a sinner like him would mean anything, but...it was worth a try. From there, he needed to move. First, he took whatever he could off Dengar, ensuring his weapons wouldn't fall into the wrong hands. He'd give Sean the guns, not knowing how they worked, himself. He was satisfied with Shanao and the saber. Then, he'd take a bag off the corpse and pack up their gold. They'd need to convert it into credits, but the more pressing matter was treating these wounds. "We need to move out," he said, once more dividing whatever credits he was given between Sean and himself. "We need to find somewhere to treat my injuries before I'm the one needing to be..." He didn't say more after that. But the sirens were getting closer. It was time to go.

@Sark @Atomic Knight

ROOFTOP
Gen closed his eyes, accepting death with open arms. As his tense muscles finally loosened, Yashamaru could've sworn that Gen was trying to say something... Something he couldn't quite make out...

//BOUNTY ADDED//
Current Balance: 3,012,000
34 HOURS REMAINING
CURRENT TIME: 12:00AM
CHAMPIONS REMAINING: 39/50/ ESTIMATED VIEWERS: 65 BILLION/ BOUNTIES PER KILL: 2,000,000/ CURRENT DEBTS: 40,000,000

Blade Wolf clattered to Yashamaru's side. [Target Eliminated. The Devil of Hong Kong is Deceased. Excluding protected parties, 37 hunters remain.] He hummed. [My intellect is superior to that of our foes. I am connected to the Hunter System. I can chart a course of your choosing. There's a Pharmacy and Medical Center in District B. If you do not wish to travel as far, the Compendium Hotel will have a selection of medical equipment on site.]

@Yun Lee @Atomic Knight

"W-who gave you permission to be so...grabby hands...perv?" Bad Girl slurred as the "doctor" checked up on her. She tried to lift her arms to punch the big blurb standing over her but she didn't have the strength to lift them. "I'm not...gonna go out...like a fucking punk ass BITCH!" Bad Girl tried as she might but her entire body failed her when she tried to move. "Hotter then a... zebras cooch in her..." She remembered one thing she used to do when her entire body ached. "Ice bath..." She mumbled. "Dunk me in a fucking ice bath."

@Sark @Ottonomous Ghost @Gummi Bunnies

Safe House
"Relax, would you?" Mr.HC sighed, stepping away from his 'patient'. Despite the dire situation, he seemed remarkably calm. "All this cursing and.. did you just try to punch me? Ah, forget it. You'll only make yourself sicker." He looked over his shoulder in confusion. Chuck simply stood there, his arms folded. "You heard the woman. Run her an ice bath."

Chuck turned on the stop and marched down the hall, calling out to Frost as he did so.
"Ice packs, kid! Top shelf! What's taking so long?"
"I--" Frost stammered. "I can't find them!"
"How hard can it be?" HC muttered to himself. "It's not a big cabinet..."
"Damnit!" Chuck cursed. He wrapped his fingers around the handle and twisted it. It didn't open. He tried a couple more times. "The doors' jammed. Try opening it from your end."
A scuffling sound rumbled down the hall.
"It's no use I can't--"
[CRACK!]
Chuck's shoulder sent the door flying open, snapping its lock in two. The scuffling sound grew louder and Chuck tossed the contents of the cupboard onto the floor.
"We've got pain killers... sedatives... laxatives... no ice packs!" He cried, rifling through the medicine bottles.
"They were there this morning! Check again!"
"I'm telling you, they're not here!"
"Damnit, let me look!" HC got up from his place on the couch and jogged down the hall. Frost emerged a moment later, a fresh bandage sitting upon the wound on his arm. He sat down beside Bad Girl and placed his hand upon her forehead.
"Wow you're really burning up..." He chirped innocently. "Though, I guess you're the only one to blame here..."
He leaned in close so that only Charlotte could hear him. His tone changed completely. A smirk crawled across his lips.
View attachment 6129
"Didn't your mother warn you not to accept drinks from strange men?"

@Jeremi @Ottonomous Ghost @Gummi Bunnies​

 

[0ttonomous]

Kayn and Rhaast
@Sark @Jeremi @Ottonomous Ghost @Gummi Bunnies @Safe House​

"You'd be hard pressed to find an ass on Prudence that doesn't want to beat the shit out of Tormo." Chuck smirked. "He's got District A in his pocket, sure. But half of the Big-Wigs down there would happily kick him out and take his place. District B and C play his game out of necessity. It's hunt or starve in some parts of town. There are some folks around here who are happy to lend a hand to the Hunted. If Tormo starts to look weak, you can bet that number's gonna grow. I doubt losing the bank has helped his approval ratings, that much I know..."

"Well..." Frost hummed, taken back by the alien authority that had just been bestowed upon him. "I... uh..."

"If it's up to me, I say we--"

Before Frost could pass judgement, a sudden wave of nausea washed over Bad Girl. To her, the room was starting to spin. Down was up and up was down. Her stomach was doing somersaults. A shiver ran down her spine.

For a moment, she black out. Compelled by instinct, Frost rushed to her side, catching her before she could strike the floor. A second later, she came to, but her symptoms had only grown more sever.

"W-w-what's happening to her?" Frost stammered. "Is she sick?"

"I... I don't know..." Chuck muttered. He cautiously approached Charlotte's side. "It's not any sickness I've seen..."

Without a moment's hesitation, Chuck scooped up Bad Girl and flung her over his shoulder.

"What are you--?"

"She's coming back to the Safe House with us."

"But I thought we agreed that I--"

"I'm making the call for you. We're not letting her go out like this. We have some medicine back at the safe house. Hold the door, kid. We're leaving!"

"Fine! Just... let me help!"

***
Safe House
The road to the Safe House was quick and quiet. After a short journey up an old fire escape, the apartment was nothing but a short rooftop run away.
The Safe House was a storey taller than most of the other buildings on the block. A single window faced out onto rooftop. Through it, the Hunted could see a young girl sitting with her legs up on a couch, watching TV. As they approached the window, she pointed a sub-machine gun in their direction. She barely pulled her eyes way from the screen.

"If you're another one of those 'Hunting Party 9' pricks I swear to God," She groaned. "You don't want to find out where I can shove this thing... Christ..."

"Katy! Off the couch!" Chuck yelled. "Go get Samatoki!"

"Dad?!" Katy leaped to her feet in confusion. She tossed her gun across the counch and ran towards the window. "Who's--"

"Don't ask, just go get him!" With a nod, Katy turned and ran down the hall, crying out for a 'Mr.HC'. Chuck and Frost clumsily passed Bad Girl's body through the window and set her down on the couch.

"Medicine Cabinet?" Frost snapped desperately.

"In the bathroom. Down the hall and to the right."

"Thank you." Frost bowed and ran down the hall.

A moment later, Samatoki emerged from a staircase at the end of the hall. He pushed past Frost and made his way into the communal room.

"Remember when this was a secret safe house?" He moaned, rolling a cigarette around in his mouth. The Hunted would notice that Mr.HC wasn't wearing a collar. "Who have you brought in now?"

"Another Hunted. Doesn't matter. She sick-"

Samatoki grabbed Bad Girl's face and yanked it about a bit.

"Has she been shot, Chuckie?"

"No, she--"

"Then what am I supposed to do?" He groaned. "I patch up holes in people. Its self-explanatory work. Disease control isn't exactly my area of expertise. You better not have brought some bio hazard into the Safe House, Chuckie. Not another one, anyway..."

Chuck tightened his fingers until his knuckles burned right.

"It's a just joke, don't take it so seriously... dumbass..." Samatoki sighed. "She's hot to touch and she's nauseous. She'll probably cook herself to death. I've got some Cyro-packs in the bathroom. They might help slow down the effects of whatever's made her like this..."

"'Whatever's made her like this?"

"She's been poisoned. I saw something like this back in the Yakuza. Hell, I used something like this back in the Yakuza..."

When Charlotte suddenly felt sick and collapsed, Kayn glanced at Vamp's corpse for a moment. He didn't know what the man was capable of, but if her weakness was the result of a posthumous attack, then staying in the vault any longer was a bad idea. In any case, it seemed that they were getting a move on to the Safe House, taking Bad Girl along after all.

Before leaving, however, Kayn grabbed a single gold bar, enveloping it in shadow. It floated beside him as they moved through the city, disguised as nothing more than dark energy.

Upon his arrival, Kayn casually held his scythe behind his neck, casting a suspicious glance toward Samatoki. It was strange that he chose to get himself mixed up in this mess, but if Chuck trusted him, then there was no use thinking about it. He watched as everyone moved to and fro, remaining silent.

"Poison? Eugh... how boring."

"I never saw anyone get as much as scratch on her," Kayn thought aloud, "Maybe the crystal did this? Or a trick Vamp had up his sleeve?"
​

Safe House
"Relax, would you?" Mr.HC sighed, stepping away from his 'patient'. Despite the dire situation, he seemed remarkably calm. "All this cursing and.. did you just try to punch me? Ah, forget it. You'll only make yourself sicker." He looked over his shoulder in confusion. Chuck simply stood there, his arms folded. "You heard the woman. Run her an ice bath."

Chuck turned on the stop and marched down the hall, calling out to Frost as he did so.
"Ice packs, kid! Top shelf! What's taking so long?"
"I--" Frost stammered. "I can't find them!"
"How hard can it be?" HC muttered to himself. "It's not a big cabinet..."
"Damnit!" Chuck cursed. He wrapped his fingers around the handle and twisted it. It didn't open. He tried a couple more times. "The doors' jammed. Try opening it from your end."
A scuffling sound rumbled down the hall.
"It's no use I can't--"
[CRACK!]
Chuck's shoulder sent the door flying open, snapping its lock in two. The scuffling sound grew louder and Chuck tossed the contents of the cupboard onto the floor.
"We've got pain killers... sedatives... laxatives... no ice packs!" He cried, rifling through the medicine bottles.
"They were there this morning! Check again!"
"I'm telling you, they're not here!"
"Damnit, let me look!" HC got up from his place on the couch and jogged down the hall. Frost emerged a moment later, a fresh bandage sitting upon the wound on his arm. He sat down beside Bad Girl and placed his hand upon her forehead.
"Wow you're really burning up..." He chirped innocently. "Though, I guess you're the only one to blame here..."
He leaned in close so that only Charlotte could hear him. His tone changed completely. A smirk crawled across his lips.

"Didn't your mother warn you not to accept drinks from strange men?"

"...?" Kayn looked around at all the commotion, not quite understanding what all the noise was about. Was it that hard to fetch something? "What the hell's going on over there?"

He narrowed his eyes at the demon upon noticing his devilish smile. Something wasn't right. Why was he so calm around her all of a sudden? Frost didn't seem like the kind of man to get so close to a vulnerable woman. "Frost... where's the medicine?" the assassin inquired, taking a couple cautious steps forward.​

 

[Sark]

Kayn and Rhaast
@Sark @Jeremi @Ottonomous Ghost @Gummi Bunnies @Safe House

When Charlotte suddenly felt sick and collapsed, Kayn glanced at Vamp's corpse for a moment. He didn't know what the man was capable of, but if her weakness was the result of a posthumous attack, then staying in the vault any longer was a bad idea. In any case, it seemed that they were getting a move on to the Safe House, taking Bad Girl along after all.

Before leaving, however, Kayn grabbed a single gold bar, enveloping it in shadow. It floated beside him as they moved through the city, disguised as nothing more than dark energy.

Upon his arrival, Kayn casually held his scythe behind his neck, casting a suspicious glance toward Samatoki. It was strange that he chose to get himself mixed up in this mess, but if Chuck trusted him, then there was no use thinking about it. He watched as everyone moved to and fro, remaining silent.

"Poison? Eugh... how boring."

"I never saw anyone get as much as scratch on her," Kayn thought aloud, "Maybe the crystal did this? Or a trick Vamp had up his sleeve?"

"Just because I don't know what it is doesn't mean I don't know what it is not." Samatoki called down the hall. "The Crystal is capable of doing a bunch of weird things, but this isn't one of them. I'm presuming you were all in the vault when the bank was blown sky high? If the crystal was the cause, you'd all be hard boiled be now. Vamp, on the other hand... it's possible..."

"...?" Kayn looked around at all the commotion, not quite understanding what all the noise was about. Was it that hard to fetch something? "What the hell's going on over there?"

He narrowed his eyes at the demon upon noticing his devilish smile. Something wasn't right. Why was he so calm around her all of a sudden? Frost didn't seem like the kind of man to get so close to a vulnerable woman. "Frost... where's the medicine?" the assassin inquired, taking a couple cautious steps forward.

"I wish I knew!" Frost squealed, his eyes creasing. His demeanor shifted once again. The sweet, innocent Frost had returned. "To watch her dying like this... It pains me so! I just feel so... so helpless!" He pounded his fist down upon the edge of the couch. "I should've looked out for her more! I should not have pushed her away! That stress no doubt worsened her condition..."

@Ottonomous Ghost @Jeremi @Gummi Bunnies​

 

[Yun Lee]

Yashamaru closed his eyes, the transfer of credits confirming the old man's end. But it was time to move on. "The hotel...that may be our best option, if it's close." They needed to be careful, and time was of the essence. "Thank you, Prototype. Please, lead the way."

@Sark @Atomic Knight​

 

[0ttonomous]

Kayn and Rhaast
@Sark @Jeremi @Ottonomous Ghost @Gummi Bunnies @Safe House​

"I wish I knew!" Frost squealed, his eyes creasing. His demeanor shifted once again. The sweet, innocent Frost had returned. "To watch her dying like this... It pains me so! I just feel so... so helpless!" He pounded his fist down upon the edge of the couch. "I should've looked out for her more! I should not have pushed her away! That stress no doubt worsened her condition..."

"Relax," Kayn replied, scanning Frost suspiciously, "None of this is your fault. She treated her life much too recklessly, and now fate is catching up to her."

...

"I'm a little confused as to why you care so much about her, though," he continued, leaning against his scythe, "She has proven to be a nuisance to both of us. And if the medicine here is so scarce... don't you think it would be better to use it on someone more worthy?"​

 

[Sark]

Yashamaru closed his eyes, the transfer of credits confirming the old man's end. But it was time to move on. "The hotel...that may be our best option, if it's close." They needed to be careful, and time was of the essence. "Thank you, Prototype. Please, lead the way."

@Sark @Atomic Knight

HOTEL
The Hotel was an absolute mess. Its widows were shattered. Its furniture was tattered, torn and burned. The bloated corpses of the private security officers that had fallen the night before were left where they had fallen. Most of them had been diced up into tiny little pieces. A kite of police tape drifted through the air. The authorities had diverted all their resources to District A in the hopes of locking down the Financial District. The ruining lobby was silent as the grave...

Almost.

"Alright! 'Fess up!" A voice called form a nearby stairwell. A moment later, an out of breath Arcade emerged, hobbling upon his cane. He held an ice cold bottle of Champagne in his free hand. "Which one of you shit-for-brains broke it? Which one of you butter-fingered, thick skulled--" He squinted his eyes. With the light-bulbs shattered and the storm blocking out the natural light, the lobby was dark. It took Arcade a few moments to realize who he was talking to. "Oh. It's you..." He hummed, taking a swing of his Champagne. He hopped back and sat upon the reception desk.

"So, Yashamaru, what brings you to my neck of you wood? I'd offer you something to drink, but I've never been one for sharing. Besides, the barbarians you met at the bank killed most of my staff and I don't feel like heading down to the cellar..."

@Yun Lee @Atomic Knight​

 

[Yun Lee]

Yashamaru was used to the stench of death, but even this was rather excessive. Beneath his mask, his nose wrinkled, but fortunately there was a distraction in the form of this...interesting man. He wasn't going to bother asking how he knew his name or what was going on. This was all being shown on those strange screens to everyone.

"From what I gather, it was the vulgar blonde woman," he replied. "I take it the crystal is what..." Wait. "Your crystal? I was under the impression it belonged to Sorc Tormo." This man wasn't Tormo, he knew. But still... "But what I'm here for is medicine. I doubt it will be of much use to your staff."

@Sark @Atomic Knight​

 

[Sark]

Yashamaru was used to the stench of death, but even this was rather excessive. Beneath his mask, his nose wrinkled, but fortunately there was a distraction in the form of this...interesting man. He wasn't going to bother asking how he knew his name or what was going on. This was all being shown on those strange screens to everyone.

"From what I gather, it was the vulgar blonde woman," he replied. "I take it the crystal is what..." Wait. "Your crystal? I was under the impression it belonged to Sorc Tormo." This man wasn't Tormo, he knew. But still... "But what I'm here for is medicine. I doubt it will be of much use to your staff."

@Sark @Atomic Knight

Hotel
"Oh I knew it!" Arcade hissed, slamming his bottle down upon the counter. "The nerve on that bitch... Still... no point crying over spilled Diamond..." Arcade sighed and rolled his head back ."Not when the end is nigh, and all... This blows... but that much you already know..."

"Your crystal? I was under the impression it belonged to Sorc Tormo." This man wasn't Tormo, he knew. But still... "But what I'm here for is medicine. I doubt it will be of much use to your staff."

@Sark @Atomic Knight

"Sure, Tormo will claim its his. The Hutts will say the same thing. Ever since the Arena, everyone's wanted a little piece of my piece of my pie. Fame! It's a burden! You see, Mr.Yashamaru, I died a few years ago. Got my brain melted. Real nasty stuff. The second I kicked it, those slimy bastards were rifling through my things. That crystal was worth more than this whole damn planet. It's worth more than your life. Worth more than even mine." Arcade snapped his fingers. Yashamaru's wounds started to close. "Not that it really matters now. The storm's out of the bag. 'Sorc Tormo' is no doubt crapping himself. I'll take comfort in that much."

@Yun Lee @Atomic Knight​

 

[Yun Lee]

"!!!" Yashamaru raised a hand to his shoulder. That was...not what he'd expected. At all. But this man had many interesting things to say. "Arena...does that mean you're the Arcade they mentioned at the start of all this?" If so, that meant he was no better than Sorc. But... "Thank you." Yashamaru wasn't stupid. A man who could heal his wounds with a snap of his fingers could open them right up again with the same amount of effort. And do much worse...

Besides, now was a good time to get some insider information. "The way you say his name...are you insinuating Sorc is...not who he says he is?"

@Sark @Atomic Knight​

 

[Jeremi]

ROOFTOP
Gen closed his eyes, accepting death with open arms. As his tense muscles finally loosened, Yashamaru could've sworn that Gen was trying to say something... Something he couldn't quite make out...

//BOUNTY ADDED//
Current Balance: 3,012,000
34 HOURS REMAINING
CURRENT TIME: 12:00AM
CHAMPIONS REMAINING: 39/50/ ESTIMATED VIEWERS: 65 BILLION/ BOUNTIES PER KILL: 2,000,000/ CURRENT DEBTS: 40,000,000

Blade Wolf clattered to Yashamaru's side. [Target Eliminated. The Devil of Hong Kong is Deceased. Excluding protected parties, 37 hunters remain.] He hummed. [My intellect is superior to that of our foes. I am connected to the Hunter System. I can chart a course of your choosing. There's a Pharmacy and Medical Center in District B. If you do not wish to travel as far, the Compendium Hotel will have a selection of medical equipment on site.]

@Yun Lee @Atomic Knight

Safe House
"Relax, would you?" Mr.HC sighed, stepping away from his 'patient'. Despite the dire situation, he seemed remarkably calm. "All this cursing and.. did you just try to punch me? Ah, forget it. You'll only make yourself sicker." He looked over his shoulder in confusion. Chuck simply stood there, his arms folded. "You heard the woman. Run her an ice bath."

Chuck turned on the stop and marched down the hall, calling out to Frost as he did so.
"Ice packs, kid! Top shelf! What's taking so long?"
"I--" Frost stammered. "I can't find them!"
"How hard can it be?" HC muttered to himself. "It's not a big cabinet..."
"Damnit!" Chuck cursed. He wrapped his fingers around the handle and twisted it. It didn't open. He tried a couple more times. "The doors' jammed. Try opening it from your end."
A scuffling sound rumbled down the hall.
"It's no use I can't--"
[CRACK!]
Chuck's shoulder sent the door flying open, snapping its lock in two. The scuffling sound grew louder and Chuck tossed the contents of the cupboard onto the floor.
"We've got pain killers... sedatives... laxatives... no ice packs!" He cried, rifling through the medicine bottles.
"They were there this morning! Check again!"
"I'm telling you, they're not here!"
"Damnit, let me look!" HC got up from his place on the couch and jogged down the hall. Frost emerged a moment later, a fresh bandage sitting upon the wound on his arm. He sat down beside Bad Girl and placed his hand upon her forehead.
"Wow you're really burning up..." He chirped innocently. "Though, I guess you're the only one to blame here..."
He leaned in close so that only Charlotte could hear him. His tone changed completely. A smirk crawled across his lips.
View attachment 6129
"Didn't your mother warn you not to accept drinks from strange men?"

@Jeremi @Ottonomous Ghost @Gummi Bunnies​

Even in her state, she knew what Frost was selling. "Men?" She mumbled. "A-all I see is..." She mustered enough strength to roll her head to look Frost right in the eyes. "A chicken shit...little...pussy."

@Sark @Ottonomous Ghost @Gummi Bunnies

 

[Sark]

"!!!" Yashamaru raised a hand to his shoulder. That was...not what he'd expected. At all. But this man had many interesting things to say. "Arena...does that mean you're the Arcade they mentioned at the start of all this?" If so, that meant he was no better than Sorc. But... "Thank you." Yashamaru wasn't stupid. A man who could heal his wounds with a snap of his fingers could open them right up again with the same amount of effort. And do much worse...

Besides, now was a good time to get some insider information. "The way you say his name...are you insinuating Sorc is...not who he says he is?"

@Sark @Atomic Knight

HOTEL
View attachment 6132
"Information doesn't come cheap... but I supposed I can throw you bone..." Arcade sneered, grinding his cane into the tiles. "Not everyone is who they appear to be. Not everything is as it seems. If you want to find out the truth... well... I suppose there's something you could do for me..."

@Yun Lee @Atomic Knight

Even in her state, she knew what Frost was selling. "Men?" She mumbled. "A-all I see is..." She mustered enough strength to roll her head to look Frost right in the eyes. "A chicken shit...little...pussy."

@Sark @Ottonomous Ghost @Gummi Bunnies

"Relax," Kayn replied, scanning Frost suspiciously, "None of this is your fault. She treated her life much too recklessly, and now fate is catching up to her."

"I'm a little confused as to why you care so much about her, though," he continued, leaning against his scythe, "She has proven to be a nuisance to both of us. And if the medicine here is so scarce... don't you think it would be better to use it on someone more worthy?"

Safe House
"M-m-maybe so..." Frost whimpered. "But I can't help but feel like... No... it doesn't matter now..." The demon sighed deeply. "Listen to her... she's delerious. I suppose I felt responsible for her. We arrived in this city in the same location and... part of me thought that meant something. That we were meant to be a team, or something... but that dream is as dead as she's going to be."

Frost stepped away from Charlotte turned back to Kayn.

"If this thing is contagious... I'd rather we saved any medicine we have for ourselves. You're right. As much as it pains me to say it... as sick as speaking ill about the afflicted makes me feel..." His eyes met Bad Girl's. "We have to let her go... for our sake..."

@Jeremi ​