Side Story Champions of the Arena III: Cursed Company

Daniel heard the Doctor but didn't even look back. If those people weren't willing to help others, then Daniel wasn't sure he wanted to be around them anyway. He recalled Sean telling him that the samurai was trustworthy, so distantly he hoped at least that man would help.

When he eventually saw the rifle, Daniel barely hesitated. He reached out with his hand to push the the aggressor away with a blast of telekinetic force. "You're a bully!" the boy yelled.

@Sark @Takumi @Yun Lee @Lucky @Jeremi @York @TeamPrudence



Phi gave Shion a nod and calmly shook Evie's hand. She noted Shion's glance toward the fighting, though it was hard to miss the explosion that rocked the entire square. Phi had a feeling someone had just been murdered. It worried her, thinking about the kids she saw at the resort who must still be around here somewhere. She just hoped they could take care of themselves.

"Is this anything like that other area you were told about?" Phi asked Shion.

@Sark @Jeremi @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy @TeamOblivion

"Just about. My partner said it was chaotic and he wasn't lying." Shion replied, a frown on his face as his eyes narrowed. He wanted to get the map and go, badly.

"His team and another had tried to become allies in the beginning to avoid playing the game and simply survive the week, but Arcade tried to break it up by having the environment attack them. Killer bees, acidic vines..." He ran his fingers along the side of his nape a moment, thoughtful.

tumblr_inline_p7hyts8OwF1svbhms_100.jpg


"The bees were from our world, and somehow Arcade had a number of them and changed them to become more hostile and deadly." He spoke.

"What beat him was what was left of the teams working together, but I doubt that'd happen with some of the people we've got against us. Besides, between that arena and this one I don't know how different it'll be in the end. What I do know is that Arcade's hurt enough people already, and I don't want anyone else having to have trouble sleeping at night because of triggered trauma or paranoia." Shion sighed.

While talking of Nezumi, he thought of the fact that he really couldn't get sleep himself some nights, though that was mostly out of growing paranoia that he'd wake up to an empty bed with entire worlds between them more than anything else.

@Sark @Atomic Knight @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy @Team Oblivion


Team NEXIUM/DEAD HEART
17 smirked, his eyes fixed upon the line of Dead Hearts marching towards him. With a flex of his shoulder, a thin, emerald bubble rippled out from his person. Soft and Wet's fists sent ripples across its glassy surface, but they failed to pierce its perimeter.
View attachment 9085
"All is fair..." 17 repeated to himself. "I do like the sound of that..."

The hum of charging energy. The sound of a finger tapping a trigger. Although they were mere whispers to mortal men, they were screams and wails to Android 17 and his enhanced hearing. He hear Mato's energy shot coming his way. He dropped his shield. He rolled to the side. He let the blast burn the air above him and strike Josuke square in the chest.

"What can I say?" The Android shrugged smugly. "All is fair..."


"It's obvious, isn't it?" 17 chirped over the sound of screaming cannons and spitting horses. "Or, at least, its so much clearer now... We start by looking for the enemy's weakest link. We identify it..." A ball of fire sparked upon the Android's palm. With each passing heartbeat, the ball grew larger. Larger. Larger! "We erode it... and then?"
View attachment 9087
"We remove it!"
BOOOM!
Android 17's Ki sphere tore a hole straight through Conner's back and out through his chest. He twitched. He spat. He went silent. 17 slowly closed his fingers. He kicked the Kryptonian's smoldering corpse onto its side and stepped back towards the fountain.
"It's a numbers game, friend... and the numbers? They're in our favor now. This here? This is where the real fun starts..."

CONNER KENT/SUPERMAN HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!!
KILLER: ANDROID 17!
METHOD OF MURDER: KILLED VIA KI BLAST!
CRIME: SECOND DEGREE MURDER!

TEAM DEAD HEART: 7/8 MEMBERS REMAINING!


All's fair in love and war...


"Murderer! He's murdered someone! Mur-der-er!" Eleven chanted to himself. His smirk was banished with a slap to his cheek. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"
"Ooooohhh we should join!" The Eleven snarled through gritted teeth. "We should steal that mallet! Turn someone's head inside out! I'm sure the Nine will love the stealing part! Oh... the Five agrees with me! He wants us to--"
Slap
"Shut up! Shut up!" The Eleven hissed, biting the scruff of his sleeve. His other hand grabbed short, silver pistol from the top of the fountain's mound. "Be quiet... Quiet now Six... The spirit of your plan is sound... but I'd rather a more... logistical approach!"

As the Titan's hand plunged deep into the fountain, the Eleven ceased his opportunity. The Time Lord leaped onto the Titan's wrist and held on for dear life. The creature's hand approached its mouth. The Renegade jumped again. He landed upon Eren's shoulder. He clicked the safety off of his weapon.

"The Five sends his regards!"

BANG! BANG! BANG!


The Timelord unleashed a flurry of shots in the direction of the airborne Sinestro, prompting the Lantern to delay his assualt and raise his shield.

"Look at us now, Eight! Look at us now!"

Swords. Guns. Knives. No. Such things didn't catch Forge's eye. He rummaged through the Conscripts defects. He frantically pushed and searched and---

There.

A box of scrap. The equivalent of a nuclear bomb, in his hands. A battery pack. An insulated pipe. A mechanical heart. His hands danced across the device. Team Oblivion's missing member approached the fountain. He set his hands upon a large, metal container. It was at least 7 foot long. Forge set his hands down upon the other end. He raised his freshly-minted, high-caliber blaster rifle. He gestured for the Oblivion Agent to fall back. He didn't move. Forge thinned his eyes. God, he missed his mouth. He looked to Zora for assistance, a hurrying look dancing in his eyes.

Scare him off. We need to go.

CIRI// SARUHIKO FUSHIMI// ZORA SALAZAR// EREN JAEGER// ALEXANDER ANDERSON// FORGE// ANDROID 17// THE ELEVEN
^ @Minerva @Ver @Capri @Gummi Bunnies @Crunch ^

MARRIANE VON EDMUND// JOSUKE HIGASHIKATA// DAN KUROTO// AIZAWA SHOTA// MATO KUROI// CONNER KENT// THAAL SINESTRO// JACQUELINE FALSWORTH
^ @Yun Lee @Capri @MagatsuNoImouto @Space_Candy @Gummi Bunnies ^




Team OBLIVION
"Come down now, sir..." Evie winced at wizard's smirk as she joined the queue, her hands idly looping behind her back. "No one likes a show off... Still. Provided that this salesman isn't one of Arcade's lackeys, we've still got another obstacle to overcome; without our gear, how are we going to pay for our--"

"--MAPS!" The salesman proclaimed. With an extravagant flail, he extended his palm. "A SHILLING A MAP, THANK YOU, SIRS AND MA'AMS! WILL YOU BE PAYING TOGETHER, OR SEPERATELY? COLORED MAPS COST AN EXTRA HALF-PENNY. IF YOU WANT A MAP WITH ALL THE SECRET LAND-MARKS DRAWN ON, THAT'LL BE A FULL POUND. YOU'VE GOT TO PAY FOR QUALITY, MY FRIENDS!"

In the distance, an explosion sounded. The First Conscript had fallen.


"Phi, Shion, it's a pleasure," Evie crossed her wrists and offered both parties an open palm. "If only we were re-meeting under sweeter circumstances. I'm Evie. Evie Frye."

SHANG TSUNG// SHION// PHI// MOLLYMAUK TEALEAF// SUIGETSU HOZUKU// EEVIE FRYE// GODBRAND// AKUMA
^ @Jeremi @Atomic Knight @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy ^


Team PRUDENCE
The Doctor's posture shifted. The tight grip he help over his lapels tightened even further. He raised his neck to get a better look at the imposing Cyborg. He thinned his eyes. He twisted his lips into a subtle, hesitant scowl.

"Hm.... Quite..." He muttered, dissecting Hank from the corner of his eye. "You'll have to forgive me, sir, but I didn't catch your name... and I certainly did not throw mine."


Across the square, Daniel caught sight of the Missing Member once again. He was standing opposite the mouthless man from the Resort, the one who had once replied to the name 'Forge'. The Missing Member stared down the rifle barrel the mutant had shoved in his face. He didn't flinch. He didn't blink. His hands remained fixed upon the large, metal container that bridged the gap between the two men. He refused to give it up. He refused to relinquish his claim.

"Get back here! Get back... ohhhh..." The Doctor murmured with defeated frustration. A body as old as his, weaving in and out of speeding carriages? Folly. It was a young man's game, and he was already wearing a bit thin. "Stupid boy!" He screamed out into the fray, hoping that the child might listen to his brand of reason.


"I assure you, I have no doubt meddled with far more dangerous technology, my dear boy!" The Doctor exclaimed, offended by Ramuda's protestations. To the Doctor, it was as if the boy was throwing down the gauntlet. The Time Lord was eager to pick it up. "And kindly refrain from calling me 'Gramps'! It's 'Doctor' or 'sir', thank you very much!"


"Do I look like a parrot to you, hm?" The Doctor hummed, raising another puzzled eyebrow. "Well do I? Am I wearing crimson wears? Does a beak protrude my face? Hm? No? Then, kindly, do not bait me into repeating things, child! You may called be 'Doctor'! 'Doc-tor'! It is not difficult, I assure you, now---" The Doctor pivoted back to the remainder of his team. "We are yet to make a definitive decision! Are we to venture through this city's alleyways, as I first suggested, or do we obey the directions of he-who-is-yet-to-share-his-name, considering the he already appears to know oh so much about us already, hm?"

"Oh--w--hm?" The Doctor stammered as demon-child made her approach. The badges, logos and icons that were burned onto her clothing alleviated his concerns. "A strangler, hm? I shan't pretend that the company isn't welcome. Come, child. We may be few, but this team of ours must try to stick together nonetheless."

RAMUDA AMEMURA// YASHAMARU// DANIEL DIAZ// CHASE DAVENPORT// HANK HENSHAW// THE DOCTOR// JAMES R. RHODES// IFRIT
^ @Takumi @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi ^

"Well, Doctor, you're just about old enough to be my Gramps y'know? Besides, believe you me that I'd just feel better having my stuff in my hands since I know how to use it." He chuckled dryly, gaze landing on the chaos when he spotted it, causing a strained smile to be frozen on his face.

Someone grabbed his mic. Tall, cowboy hat, female? He decided to commit it to memory before he saw her face off with Daniel. Strained smile gone and mouth a thin line. Rocking on his heels, he gave a thoughtful hum. Oh, deep down he was angry. Angry enough to probably kill if the chance came up.

cdef9992821dfe82fb419c7672cfe12c073afae5.jpg


"Well, Doc, it looks like someone's got it. Guess I'll just have to get it back later." Ramuda sighed as he bit down on his lollipop. How he'd do that he wasn't sure, but if the opportunity presented itself, then he'd take it.


The rush of water slammed into Daniel's telekinetic barrier, the kid's eyes going wide at what he considered an impossible sight. No matter what crazy things he'd seen since all of this arena stuff began, whatever this woman did enveloped all of that. Though Daniel was unscathed, he was unsure if he could do anything at all here.

He started to back away, though he was still not running. His body shook with fear, though still Daniel kept his eyes ahead. No matter how scary this was, Daniel didn't know if he could just leave somebody behind.

"... Fine."

Daniel reached out, taking hold of the air around the unknown team member with a telekinetic hold and pulling him toward himself. Daniel turned to run, trying to withhold a barrier behind himself while also carrying the young man through the air. If it hadn't been for his practice with Samus, he wasn't sure he'd have been able to do this at all.

@Sark @Takumi @Yun Lee @Lucky @Jeremi @York @TeamPrudence

@Minerva @Ver @Capri @Gummi Bunnies @Crunch @TeamNexium

"Only beggars walk around with no coin to their name," Shang Tsung said to the assassin. From his coat pocket he managed to pull out a small round ruby. "My good sir, what among your fine wares could I get with this?"

@Sark @Atomic Knight @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy Team Oblivion




"Your reputation precedes you," Henshaw remarked coolly. "As for who I am? The Cyborg Superman." He watched as the child continued alone. "Leave him. He's of no worth to us. Weren't you eager to leave these streets? The sewers will give us the cover we need." He hovered slightly from off the ground. "Decide quickly. I will not be idle for much longer."

@Takumi @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi Team Prudence

f4283cb1a6d65c24087622a97087dda3b9f5b57f.jpg


"Kid's coming back Mr. Cyborg.~" Ramuda hummed, watching as Daniel did his best to return to the group. The kid didn't have his mic but that was fine, he'd make do! Just stick with the team, find a weapon and wait for the chance to get his shit back.

@Sark @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi @York @Team Prudence
 
ZORA SALAZAR
@Ver

“Well, playin’ tuh win seems lahk thuh best course uhv action raht now,” Zora said, to Fushimi “Dinnuh wit’ thuh target? How ‘bout that? Arcade is whut matt’rs, but dese guys are in ahr way,”
 
Eren blinked when the Eleven would position himself on his Titan's shoulder. Well, if it worked, it worked. But now he was left with... nothing else in mind, and it was still too dangerous to just pop out of his Titan body. So the Titan just stood there, waiting for a clear course of action from his fellow teammates. It wasn't like Eren could say anything in his transformed state anyways.

tumblr_inline_mtyeprTcio1qku79w.png


Rock kept her cannon trained on those from Team NEXIUM, though stepping back cautiously. This was becoming unfavorable for them. They already lost someone's life. In addition, the loss of life was taking its toll on Mato, whose mental state rang loudly in Rock's head. The Other Self remained silent, but slight shakiness in her limbs gave away that she felt uncertainty with her protective stance for her assigned team.

@Sark @Capri @Sark @Ver @Minerva @Crunch
@TeamNexium
@Sark @Yun Lee @Capri @MagatsuNoImouto @Space_Candy @TeamDeadHearts
 

Team NEXIUM/DEAD HEART
17 smirked, his eyes fixed upon the line of Dead Hearts marching towards him. With a flex of his shoulder, a thin, emerald bubble rippled out from his person. Soft and Wet's fists sent ripples across its glassy surface, but they failed to pierce its perimeter.
View attachment 9085
"All is fair..." 17 repeated to himself. "I do like the sound of that..."

The hum of charging energy. The sound of a finger tapping a trigger. Although they were mere whispers to mortal men, they were screams and wails to Android 17 and his enhanced hearing. He hear Mato's energy shot coming his way. He dropped his shield. He rolled to the side. He let the blast burn the air above him and strike Josuke square in the chest.

"What can I say?" The Android shrugged smugly. "All is fair..."


"It's obvious, isn't it?"
17 chirped over the sound of screaming cannons and spitting horses. "Or, at least, its so much clearer now... We start by looking for the enemy's weakest link. We identify it..." A ball of fire sparked upon the Android's palm. With each passing heartbeat, the ball grew larger. Larger. Larger! "We erode it... and then?"
View attachment 9087
"We remove it!"
BOOOM!
Android 17's Ki sphere tore a hole straight through Conner's back and out through his chest. He twitched. He spat. He went silent. 17 slowly closed his fingers. He kicked the Kryptonian's smoldering corpse onto its side and stepped back towards the fountain.
"It's a numbers game, friend... and the numbers? They're in our favor now. This here? This is where the real fun starts..."

CONNER KENT/SUPERMAN HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!!
KILLER: ANDROID 17!
METHOD OF MURDER: KILLED VIA KI BLAST!
CRIME: SECOND DEGREE MURDER!

TEAM DEAD HEART: 7/8 MEMBERS REMAINING!


All's fair in love and war...


"Murderer! He's murdered someone! Mur-der-er!" Eleven chanted to himself. His smirk was banished with a slap to his cheek. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"
"Ooooohhh we should join!" The Eleven snarled through gritted teeth. "We should steal that mallet! Turn someone's head inside out! I'm sure the Nine will love the stealing part! Oh... the Five agrees with me! He wants us to--"
Slap
"Shut up! Shut up!" The Eleven hissed, biting the scruff of his sleeve. His other hand grabbed short, silver pistol from the top of the fountain's mound. "Be quiet... Quiet now Six... The spirit of your plan is sound... but I'd rather a more... logistical approach!"

As the Titan's hand plunged deep into the fountain, the Eleven ceased his opportunity. The Time Lord leaped onto the Titan's wrist and held on for dear life. The creature's hand approached its mouth. The Renegade jumped again. He landed upon Eren's shoulder. He clicked the safety off of his weapon.

"The Five sends his regards!"

BANG! BANG! BANG!


The Timelord unleashed a flurry of shots in the direction of the airborne Sinestro, prompting the Lantern to delay his assualt and raise his shield.

"Look at us now, Eight! Look at us now!"

Swords. Guns. Knives. No. Such things didn't catch Forge's eye. He rummaged through the Conscripts defects. He frantically pushed and searched and---

There.

A box of scrap. The equivalent of a nuclear bomb, in his hands. A battery pack. An insulated pipe. A mechanical heart. His hands danced across the device. Team Oblivion's missing member approached the fountain. He set his hands upon a large, metal container. It was at least 7 foot long. Forge set his hands down upon the other end. He raised his freshly-minted, high-caliber blaster rifle. He gestured for the Oblivion Agent to fall back. He didn't move. Forge thinned his eyes. God, he missed his mouth. He looked to Zora for assistance, a hurrying look dancing in his eyes.

Scare him off. We need to go.

CIRI// SARUHIKO FUSHIMI// ZORA SALAZAR// EREN JAEGER// ALEXANDER ANDERSON// FORGE// ANDROID 17// THE ELEVEN
^ @Minerva @Ver @Capri @Gummi Bunnies @Crunch ^

MARRIANE VON EDMUND// JOSUKE HIGASHIKATA// DAN KUROTO// AIZAWA SHOTA// MATO KUROI// CONNER KENT// THAAL SINESTRO// JACQUELINE FALSWORTH
^ @Yun Lee @Capri @MagatsuNoImouto @Space_Candy @Gummi Bunnies ^




Team OBLIVION
"Come down now, sir..." Evie winced at wizard's smirk as she joined the queue, her hands idly looping behind her back. "No one likes a show off... Still. Provided that this salesman isn't one of Arcade's lackeys, we've still got another obstacle to overcome; without our gear, how are we going to pay for our--"

"--MAPS!" The salesman proclaimed. With an extravagant flail, he extended his palm. "A SHILLING A MAP, THANK YOU, SIRS AND MA'AMS! WILL YOU BE PAYING TOGETHER, OR SEPERATELY? COLORED MAPS COST AN EXTRA HALF-PENNY. IF YOU WANT A MAP WITH ALL THE SECRET LAND-MARKS DRAWN ON, THAT'LL BE A FULL POUND. YOU'VE GOT TO PAY FOR QUALITY, MY FRIENDS!"

In the distance, an explosion sounded. The First Conscript had fallen.


"Phi, Shion, it's a pleasure," Evie crossed her wrists and offered both parties an open palm. "If only we were re-meeting under sweeter circumstances. I'm Evie. Evie Frye."

SHANG TSUNG// SHION// PHI// MOLLYMAUK TEALEAF// SUIGETSU HOZUKU// EEVIE FRYE// GODBRAND// AKUMA
^ @Jeremi @Atomic Knight @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy ^


Team PRUDENCE
The Doctor's posture shifted. The tight grip he help over his lapels tightened even further. He raised his neck to get a better look at the imposing Cyborg. He thinned his eyes. He twisted his lips into a subtle, hesitant scowl.

"Hm.... Quite..." He muttered, dissecting Hank from the corner of his eye. "You'll have to forgive me, sir, but I didn't catch your name... and I certainly did not throw mine."


Across the square, Daniel caught sight of the Missing Member once again. He was standing opposite the mouthless man from the Resort, the one who had once replied to the name 'Forge'. The Missing Member stared down the rifle barrel the mutant had shoved in his face. He didn't flinch. He didn't blink. His hands remained fixed upon the large, metal container that bridged the gap between the two men. He refused to give it up. He refused to relinquish his claim.

"Get back here! Get back... ohhhh..." The Doctor murmured with defeated frustration. A body as old as his, weaving in and out of speeding carriages? Folly. It was a young man's game, and he was already wearing a bit thin. "Stupid boy!" He screamed out into the fray, hoping that the child might listen to his brand of reason.


"I assure you, I have no doubt meddled with far more dangerous technology, my dear boy!" The Doctor exclaimed, offended by Ramuda's protestations. To the Doctor, it was as if the boy was throwing down the gauntlet. The Time Lord was eager to pick it up. "And kindly refrain from calling me 'Gramps'! It's 'Doctor' or 'sir', thank you very much!"


"Do I look like a parrot to you, hm?"
The Doctor hummed, raising another puzzled eyebrow. "Well do I? Am I wearing crimson wears? Does a beak protrude my face? Hm? No? Then, kindly, do not bait me into repeating things, child! You may called be 'Doctor'! 'Doc-tor'! It is not difficult, I assure you, now---" The Doctor pivoted back to the remainder of his team. "We are yet to make a definitive decision! Are we to venture through this city's alleyways, as I first suggested, or do we obey the directions of he-who-is-yet-to-share-his-name, considering the he already appears to know oh so much about us already, hm?"

"Oh--w--hm?" The Doctor stammered as demon-child made her approach. The badges, logos and icons that were burned onto her clothing alleviated his concerns. "A strangler, hm? I shan't pretend that the company isn't welcome. Come, child. We may be few, but this team of ours must try to stick together nonetheless."

RAMUDA AMEMURA// YASHAMARU// DANIEL DIAZ// CHASE DAVENPORT// HANK HENSHAW// THE DOCTOR// JAMES R. RHODES// IFRIT
^ @Takumi @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi ^
"Your reputation precedes you," Henshaw remarked coolly. "As for who I am? The Cyborg Superman." He watched as the child continued alone. "Leave him. He's of no worth to us. Weren't you eager to leave these streets? The sewers will give us the cover we need." He hovered slightly from off the ground. "Decide quickly. I will not be idle for much longer."

@Takumi @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi Team Prudence
Daniel heard the Doctor but didn't even look back. If those people weren't willing to help others, then Daniel wasn't sure he wanted to be around them anyway. He recalled Sean telling him that the samurai was trustworthy, so distantly he hoped at least that man would help.

When he eventually saw the rifle, Daniel barely hesitated. He reached out with his hand to push the the aggressor away with a blast of telekinetic force. "You're a bully!" the boy yelled.

@Sark @Takumi @Yun Lee @Lucky @Jeremi @York @TeamPrudence
The rush of water slammed into Daniel's telekinetic barrier, the kid's eyes going wide at what he considered an impossible sight. No matter what crazy things he'd seen since all of this arena stuff began, whatever this woman did enveloped all of that. Though Daniel was unscathed, he was unsure if he could do anything at all here.

He started to back away, though he was still not running. His body shook with fear, though still Daniel kept his eyes ahead. No matter how scary this was, Daniel didn't know if he could just leave somebody behind.

"... Fine."

Daniel reached out, taking hold of the air around the unknown team member with a telekinetic hold and pulling him toward himself. Daniel turned to run, trying to withhold a barrier behind himself while also carrying the young man through the air. If it hadn't been for his practice with Samus, he wasn't sure he'd have been able to do this at all.

@Sark @Takumi @Yun Lee @Lucky @Jeremi @York @TeamPrudence

@Minerva @Ver @Capri @Gummi Bunnies @Crunch @TeamNexium
View attachment 9091

"Heh, and here I really was expecting you'd mow that kid down. Guess you're a bigger softie than you let on, lady," Fushimi said to Zora with something of an amused slant in his tone, only continuing to stand in place and let Daniel go free. The young man saw no immediate threat from the child; he had unique powers for sure, but in the grand scheme of things, nothing Fushimi hadn't seen before.

To that end, frankly he had little desire to indulge in indiscriminate fighting like this. They had a job to do, after all, and it wouldn't do well to waste energy trying to ice the other teams, though if someone were to try and jump him, Fushimi would certainly not hold back against his aggressor. After all, it was as he said before.

He played to win.

At this moment, while he was drenched in the explosion of water from the fountain behind him, the young man ran his hand through his hair, slicking it back onto his head, only for the water to be dialed back by Zora's power, drying him up in an instant and causing his bangs to come back down into his face, causing him to click his tongue. Well, so much for trying out a new look.

With that, Fushimi cleared his throat not long after. "As much as I'd love to put down anyone who gets in our way, haven't we got a job to do? I'd hate to think of a bag of chuckles like Arcade living on to die another day," he mused; in some manner or another, it really did feel like this was all a big distraction.

@Capri @Sark @Gummi Bunnies @Minerva @Crunch @TeamNexium
"Just about. My partner said it was chaotic and he wasn't lying." Shion replied, a frown on his face as his eyes narrowed. He wanted to get the map and go, badly.

"His team and another had tried to become allies in the beginning to avoid playing the game and simply survive the week, but Arcade tried to break it up by having the environment attack them. Killer bees, acidic vines..." He ran his fingers along the side of his nape a moment, thoughtful.

tumblr_inline_p7hyts8OwF1svbhms_100.jpg


"The bees were from our world, and somehow Arcade had a number of them and changed them to become more hostile and deadly." He spoke.

"What beat him was what was left of the teams working together, but I doubt that'd happen with some of the people we've got against us. Besides, between that arena and this one I don't know how different it'll be in the end. What I do know is that Arcade's hurt enough people already, and I don't want anyone else having to have trouble sleeping at night because of triggered trauma or paranoia." Shion sighed.

While talking of Nezumi, he thought of the fact that he really couldn't get sleep himself some nights, though that was mostly out of growing paranoia that he'd wake up to an empty bed with entire worlds between them more than anything else.

@Sark @Atomic Knight @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy @Team Oblivion



"Well, Doctor, you're just about old enough to be my Gramps y'know? Besides, believe you me that I'd just feel better having my stuff in my hands since I know how to use it." He chuckled dryly, gaze landing on the chaos when he spotted it, causing a strained smile to be frozen on his face.

Someone grabbed his mic. Tall, cowboy hat, female? He decided to commit it to memory before he saw her face off with Daniel. Strained smile gone and mouth a thin line. Rocking on his heels, he gave a thoughtful hum. Oh, deep down he was angry. Angry enough to probably kill if the chance came up.

cdef9992821dfe82fb419c7672cfe12c073afae5.jpg


"Well, Doc, it looks like someone's got it. Guess I'll just have to get it back later." Ramuda sighed as he bit down on his lollipop. How he'd do that he wasn't sure, but if the opportunity presented itself, then he'd take it.






f4283cb1a6d65c24087622a97087dda3b9f5b57f.jpg


"Kid's coming back Mr. Cyborg.~" Ramuda hummed, watching as Daniel did his best to return to the group. The kid didn't have his mic but that was fine, he'd make do! Just stick with the team, find a weapon and wait for the chance to get his shit back.

@Sark @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi @York @Team Prudence
Ifrit
@Sark @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi @Takumi @Team Prudence

Stopped by the Doctor, who... Coincidentally shared a title with someone who she had begun to grow fond of back home, Ifrit seemed to for the moment forget about pursuing the stray person that Daniel had run after. Instead, she looked up at him, nodding half heartedly at what he said. It was difficult to say how much she was paying attention.

But alas, she broke her silence, speaking in a low, somewhat grumbly voice.

"Hungry. I'm hungry. Can we get... Food?" She asked, though if she had been any louder it might have sounded like a demand.

Her gaze shot towards that nearby Cafe, a loud grumble resonating from her stomach.

If nothing else, it was clear why she seemed a little... Lethargic at the moment.​
 
"Your reputation precedes you," Henshaw remarked coolly. "As for who I am? The Cyborg Superman." He watched as the child continued alone. "Leave him. He's of no worth to us. Weren't you eager to leave these streets? The sewers will give us the cover we need." He hovered slightly from off the ground. "Decide quickly. I will not be idle for much longer."
Team PRUDENCE
"A wander like me? Reputable?" The Doctor's expression soured, as if he had just sipped a cup of vinegar. Hank's responses had unnerved him greatly. He craned his neck. He plunked upon his earlobe. "I've hardly left Gallifrey! The moans of those drab bureaucrats are still fresh in my mind, so, save for the High Council and, perhaps, the Celestial Intervention Agency, I doubt I've earned notoriety in any man's book. That's the sorry truth of being a renegade, dear boy. I am but a nomad. A vagabond. A stranger. Reputation is hardly my watchword." The Time Lord came to a sudden stop atop the manhole, his shoes clicking one final click as he did so. He slowly tipped his head over his shoulder, his eyes meeting those of the Cyborg. "Which leaves but one explanation for your knowledge, now doesn't it? You must come from a future point in my own timeline. Now, if you were a future friend of mine, I would have no doubt versed you in the dangers of interacting with a past incarnation of myself!" The Doctor looped his finger through the manhole and slowly dragged it open, a squeaking, wheezing hum escaping his lips as he did so. Two shaky legs were slowly lowered into the sewer. "Tell me... Mr... Suiterman, was it? Are you, perhaps, a Time Lord, or simply another fool who would risk jeopardizing the sanctity of the timeline in the service of his own needs?"

Daniel heard the Doctor but didn't even look back. If those people weren't willing to help others, then Daniel wasn't sure he wanted to be around them anyway. He recalled Sean telling him that the samurai was trustworthy, so distantly he hoped at least that man would help.

When he eventually saw the rifle, Daniel barely hesitated. He reached out with his hand to push the the aggressor away with a blast of telekinetic force. "You're a bully!" the boy yelled.
When one observes the timeline from the outside, its easy to say that history repeats itself. It doesn't. That said, it does tend to rhyme from time to time, especially when young men are unable to learn from their mistakes. Daniel Diaz was one such man.

Daniel's telekinetic blast pushed Forge away, just as he had intended. The Mutant was throw backwards into the fountain. His skull struck the fist of a concrete cherub. A fracture. A hemorrhage. Another death.

FORGE HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!!
KILLER: DANIEL DIAZ!
METHOD OF MURDER: KILLED VIA TELEKINETIC BLAST!
CRIME: VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER!

TEAM DEAD NEXIUM: 7/8 MEMBERS REMAINING!


"Oh... shit!" The Eleven cursed. It wasn't a curse of fright or surprise. He was frustrated. Or, at least, a large part of him was. The Six was furious. The Five was losing his mind. The Eight was doing his best to keep the peace. But with 11 spirits in revolt, 'peace' is a concept rarely experienced. The Eleven turned his weapon towards the fleeing child. He unleashed a flurry of wild shots in his directions. "Run! Run! It's been a while since we've hunted! We're coming for ya! We're coming for your whole damn clan, ya bastard!"

The rush of water slammed into Daniel's telekinetic barrier, the kid's eyes going wide at what he considered an impossible sight. No matter what crazy things he'd seen since all of this arena stuff began, whatever this woman did enveloped all of that. Though Daniel was unscathed, he was unsure if he could do anything at all here.

He started to back away, though he was still not running. His body shook with fear, though still Daniel kept his eyes ahead. No matter how scary this was, Daniel didn't know if he could just leave somebody behind.

"... Fine."

Daniel reached out, taking hold of the air around the unknown team member with a telekinetic hold and pulling him toward himself. Daniel turned to run, trying to withhold a barrier behind himself while also carrying the young man through the air. If it hadn't been for his practice with Samus, he wasn't sure he'd have been able to do this at all.
"Kid's coming back Mr. Cyborg.~" Ramuda hummed, watching as Daniel did his best to return to the group. The kid didn't have his mic but that was fine, he'd make do! Just stick with the team, find a weapon and wait for the chance to get his shit back.
Daniel's 'hold' pulled the Missing Member and his prize out of Forge's cold, dead hands. Team OBLIVION's latest addition rewarded the boy with a nod of conviction. Without his intervention, he would have surely died. A life for a life. It had all been worth it, right?

Ramuda's chirping caught the Doctor's attention, drawing his head back out of the sewer. His eyes twisted into a tight squint.
"Hm! Looks like's brought a friend too! And who might you be, chap?"
View attachment 9092
"Colonel James Rhodes, US. Air Force," Rhodey dropped his box beside to manhole. "This kid just saved my l--"

"Oh... a soldier..." The Doctor groaned sarcastically, continuing his decent into the deep. "It's that just... splendid."

"We're in a Warzone, sir," Rhodey replied bluntly, unafraid to show his frustration. "A soldier is just what you need right now."

"Another 'tough-man' with a gun? Another chest-beating, war starting, saluting stooge?" The Doctor's voice echoed from the pipes bellow. "I think not. We we need are minds, sound and sharp. Unless you can provide us one of those, Mr.Roader, then I would greatly appreciate it if you could kindly send your burden elsewhere!"

"Believe me. I'm no moron." James replied through gritted teeth. He shot a tired look in Ramuda's direction. "You think he's going to be like this the entire time?"

"Well, Doctor, you're just about old enough to be my Gramps y'know? Besides, believe you me that I'd just feel better having my stuff in my hands since I know how to use it." He chuckled dryly, gaze landing on the chaos when he spotted it, causing a strained smile to be frozen on his face.
Stopped by the Doctor, who... Coincidentally shared a title with someone who she had begun to grow fond of back home, Ifrit seemed to for the moment forget about pursuing the stray person that Daniel had run after. Instead, she looked up at him, nodding half heartedly at what he said. It was difficult to say how much she was paying attention.

But alas, she broke her silence, speaking in a low, somewhat grumbly voice.

"Hungry. I'm hungry. Can we get... Food?" She asked, though if she had been any louder it might have sounded like a demand.

Her gaze shot towards that nearby Cafe, a loud grumble resonating from her stomach.

If nothing else, it was clear why she seemed a little... Lethargic at the moment.
"Old? Old?" The Doctor chuckled as he stepped off of his ladder. "I think you'll find that I'm barely a day over 239! In fact, my 240th birthday is fast approaching, and, if you would be so kind, I greatly appreciate it if your gift this year was a vow never to call me 'Gramps' again!" The Time Lord huffed. The sewers were dark, unbearably so. Without a torch or anything of the sort, Team OBLIVION would be left wandering blindly into the void. The Doctor tipped his head upwards towards the ladder. "Come on! Come on down! I'm not tasting any toxic substances in the air... Though, it does smell rather unpleasant, truth be told. I think... I think I can see a fuse box down here. I might be able to get the emergency lights working!" He shot a finger skyward. "Young boy! You! With the pink-hair! I'm going to need an extra pair of hands. And Mr.Suiterman! Please, there's a gas main emitting an unnerving hiss a little up the way from here. If you could apply some pressure to it, that would be greatly appreciated... Oh, and if someone could make sure the Military Man keeps well away from my operation, that would be greatly appreciated! Even a simple procedure like this would no doubt blow his feeble mind..."

"Jesus Christ..." Rhodey muttered to himself. "Who the hell does this guy think he is?"

Stopped by the Doctor, who... Coincidentally shared a title with someone who she had begun to grow fond of back home, Ifrit seemed to for the moment forget about pursuing the stray person that Daniel had run after. Instead, she looked up at him, nodding half heartedly at what he said. It was difficult to say how much she was paying attention.

But alas, she broke her silence, speaking in a low, somewhat grumbly voice.

"Hungry. I'm hungry. Can we get... Food?" She asked, though if she had been any louder it might have sounded like a demand.

Her gaze shot towards that nearby Cafe, a loud grumble resonating from her stomach.

If nothing else, it was clear why she seemed a little... Lethargic at the moment.
"No." Rhodey hummed as Ifrit's eyes started to wander. He wasn't going to let her venture cafe-bound. Not now. Not with everything going on. "Ma'am, I'm going to have to firmly ask you to not."

RAMUDA AMEMURA// YASHAMARU// DANIEL DIAZ// CHASE DAVENPORT// HANK HENSHAW// THE DOCTOR// JAMES R. RHODES// JANET VAN DYNE
^ @Takumi @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi ^

"Heh, and here I really was expecting you'd mow that kid down. Guess you're a bigger softie than you let on, lady," Fushimi said to Zora with something of an amused slant in his tone, only continuing to stand in place and let Daniel go free. The young man saw no immediate threat from the child; he had unique powers for sure, but in the grand scheme of things, nothing Fushimi hadn't seen before.
“Got ‘im runnin’” Zora said matter-of-factly to the mute before she turned to team Dead Hearts and spread her arms.

View attachment 9089

“Now, anyone who wanna challenge me or mah team-mates, step right up,”
Team NEXIUM
"Hm. You had me fooled too." Android 17 muttered, kicking Conner's corpse aside. "My money was on one of you guys painting the street with the other. Who coulda guessed that this guy was gonna bite it instead..." Returning to the fountain, 17 callously poked Forge's floating corpse. The Mutant's body bobbed like an apple, unresponsive. "Yup. He's dead. Dunno if the kid has even realized yet. Man. What a roller coaster..." The Android flipped Forge over and squinted at its battered face. "Damn. He had to get his headband all bloody. I was vying for that. Still. At least I've still got the old man's coat to look forward too..."

With that, Fushimi cleared his throat not long after. "As much as I'd love to put down anyone who gets in our way, haven't we got a job to do? I'd hate to think of a bag of chuckles like Arcade living on to die another day," he mused; in some manner or another, it really did feel like this was all a big distraction.
Eren blinked when the Eleven would position himself on his Titan's shoulder. Well, if it worked, it worked. But now he was left with... nothing else in mind, and it was still too dangerous to just pop out of his Titan body. So the Titan just stood there, waiting for a clear course of action from his fellow teammates. It wasn't like Eren could say anything in his transformed state anyways.
"Believe me, I'd love to put that ginger creep in the dirt," Android 17 smirked, parking himself against the fountain's bloody edge. He folded his arms and leaned back into the water. "But he's not here, is he? He's watching us, sure. He seemed to make that part pretty clear. But I'm guessing he's placing himself far out of our line of fire. Way I see it? We need to get the big-guy's attention. We could carve a bloody trail across the city, starting with that kid and his newfound friends, and avenge... shit... whatever his name was. We win Arcade's game, claim his prize, them pop a bullet in the creep's skull." 17 made a mock-gun with his hand and shot an imaginary bullet into the sky. "Boom. We get Nexium off of our backs, we fatten our wallets, we get revenge on the perv and we get to have a buck load of fun. That's the only 'job' I can see us doing... but... judging by the fact that we keep passing the role of 'the planner' around, I guess we're a democracy now. I'm open to ideas."

CIRI// SARUHIKO FUSHIMI// ZORA SALAZAR// EREN JAEGER// ALEXANDER ANDERSON// FORGE// ANDROID 17// THE ELEVEN
^ @Minerva @Ver @Capri @Gummi Bunnies @Crunch ^

“Now, anyone who wanna challenge me or mah team-mates, step right up,”

“Th-they’re monsters!” Josuke mutters under his breath, visibly shaken.
Rock kept her cannon trained on those from Team NEXIUM, though stepping back cautiously. This was becoming unfavorable for them. They already lost someone's life. In addition, the loss of life was taking its toll on Mato, whose mental state rang loudly in Rock's head. The Other Self remained silent, but slight shakiness in her limbs gave away that she felt uncertainty with her protective stance for her assigned team.
Team DEAD HEARTS
Sinestro stared down Zora, his eyes unblinking and his cheeks untwitching. Thaal cursed his hubris. He damned it. He should have stopped Conner. He should have done something. Anything. But he had faltered. Hesitated. He had wanted to humiliate Super-boy. He had wanted to show his fellow Conscripts the dangers of disobedience and dissent. Well. He had succeeded. And his prize? A young boys corpse, and another coat of shame to paint upon a lifetime of regret. The light in his ring started to fade. He ceased his hovering and returned to the streets bellow.

The once crowded street was no a ghostly and barren. The civilians that had once infested the square had all fled and gone. Now, they were alone, save for the bodies, each marked by a burning, carriage wheel tombstone. All this chaos... All this death... and for what?

"Unfortunately, you are correct, Josuke..." Thaal muttered as his heels clicked down upon the cobblestone once again. That's right. Blame the enemy. Wash your hands of your part in proceedings. "We won't find any glory here. Forge's death changes nothing. We're fighting a losing battle. Retreat is out only option."

He didn't remove his eyes from Zora. He might have been surrendering more ground to Team Nexium, but he wasn't about to give them the satisfaction of seeing his back.

"Sewers. Alleys. Rooftops. Make the call."

MARRIANE VON EDMUND// JOSUKE HIGASHIKATA// DAN KUROTO// AIZAWA SHOTA// MATO KUROI// CONNER KENT// THAAL SINESTRO// JACQUELINE FALSWORTH
^ @Yun Lee @Capri @MagatsuNoImouto @Space_Candy @Gummi Bunnies ^

"Only beggars walk around with no coin to their name," Shang Tsung said to the assassin. From his coat pocket he managed to pull out a small round ruby. "My good sir, what among your fine wares could I get with this?"
Team OBLIVION
The salesman took one look at the ruby and broke into a guttural laughing fit. His voice, still raspy from all his screaming, was clearly strained by his snickering. But the pain didn't phase him. Oh no, it wasn't every day he got to laugh like this.

"What's so funny?" Evie squinted, closing the distance between the salesman and herself. God, having her gear would have been a godsend right about now. "Is it something he said?" She added, bluntly.

"Nah, nah! It's that... bloody jewel!" He giggled. "The Huns have been flooding our markets with counterfeits, yasee! They're trying ta undermine our economy, ya see, and ya can hardly blame them! We're at war, after all! The Gov'mnt have suspended the trade of all crystals to try to slow the circulation of the fakes, but its hardly helpin'! Anyone caught tryin' to circumvent the ban gets sent straight to the tower, where they're to be hung as a foreign agent, no trial required. And here you are... just, waving one about in the street!"

The saleman erupted into another laughing fit.

"I'm sure many men would have such a gem above their own lives, sir..." Evie muttered, the gears behind her eyes turning faster by the minute. An idea was forming. "How about an under the table trade?" She whispered. "We leave the gem here... just... on the floor... We'll turn around whilst you clean it up, and you'll turn around whilst we clean up a few of dropped maps. Sound fair?"

"HA! No." The saleman chuckled. "Then, I'd be stuck with a worthless, fake gem. There's an appraiser down the street. He works in the antiques store, down by the alleys. He may-or-may-not be a Black-Market-Guy. Tell him Jackson Prozole sent you. He'll see if that rock is worth a damn. Might even buy it off you. But you didn't hear that tip from me. If you want a map, bring me back shilling, and I'll give you one. If you can't do that... well..."

Evie rolled her eyes.
"Wizard, you don't happen to have a... a spell, or something, that might be able to deal with him? Maybe you could banish him somewhere? Somewhere far from here, perhaps?"

Phi gave Shion a nod and calmly shook Evie's hand. She noted Shion's glance toward the fighting, though it was hard to miss the explosion that rocked the entire square. Phi had a feeling someone had just been murdered. It worried her, thinking about the kids she saw at the resort who must still be around here somewhere. She just hoped they could take care of themselves.

"Is this anything like that other arena you were told about?" Phi asked Shion.

@Sark @Jeremi @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy @TeamOblivion
"Just about. My partner said it was chaotic and he wasn't lying." Shion replied, a frown on his face as his eyes narrowed. He wanted to get the map and go, badly.

"His team and another had tried to become allies in the beginning to avoid playing the game and simply survive the week, but Arcade tried to break it up by having the environment attack them. Killer bees, acidic vines..." He ran his fingers along the side of his nape a moment, thoughtful.

"The bees were from our world, and somehow Arcade had a number of them and changed them to become more hostile and deadly." He spoke.

"What beat him was what was left of the teams working together, but I doubt that'd happen with some of the people we've got against us. Besides, between that arena and this one I don't know how different it'll be in the end. What I do know is that Arcade's hurt enough people already, and I don't want anyone else having to have trouble sleeping at night because of triggered trauma or paranoia." Shion sighed.

While talking of Nezumi, he thought of the fact that he really couldn't get sleep himself some nights, though that was mostly out of growing paranoia that he'd wake up to an empty bed with entire worlds between them more than anything else.
"Sounds like hell..." Evie replied, lost for anything else to say. She couldn't find the words of comfort she was looking for. Everything the boy was saying... it was so alien. So strange. So distant from the world she had once known. Understanding might have ben difficult, but empathizing wasn't hard. . She place her hand upon his shoulder and did her best to smile. "At least he made it home... Very few people can say that after going through something like that. As for the other teams..." The Assassin hummed, weighing up her options. "Team Prudence... The Team with that Pink Haired Girl, the child... and that old man. They ran away from the fighting, the moment things went to hell. If anyone's willing to listen to reason, it'll be them. They ran east of here... If they're still dragging that elderly gentleman about with them, then they couldn't've gotten far. We could still catch up with them, if we hurry."

SHANG TSUNG// SHION// PHI// MOLLYMAUK TEALEAF// SUIGETSU HOZUKU// EEVIE FRYE// GODBRAND// AKUMA
^ @Jeremi @Atomic Knight @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy ^
 
Team PRUDENCE

"Perhaps then this is nothing but a mistaken identity," Henshaw remarked. "I am nothing but a man trapped in the machine, and any involvement in time travel is happenstance." The arrival of their new member didn't strike much of a reaction from Henshaw as he surveyed the sewer. Again he'd use his heightened vision to try and see if there was something out of place. Getting down here this easily did not sit right with him.

@Takumi @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi Team Prudence




Team OBLIVION

"Oh of course. You will have to forgive me. My old age has finally started to catch up with me." Shang Tsung pocketed the ruby and instead pulled out for the layman was a simple shilling. The wizard handed it over to the salesman placing his hand on the sellers shoulder and looked deeply into his eyes. "I trust that will suffice?"

@Sark @Atomic Knight @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy Team Oblivion
 

Team PRUDENCE
"A wander like me? Reputable?" The Doctor's expression soured, as if he had just sipped a cup of vinegar. Hank's responses had unnerved him greatly. He craned his neck. He plunked upon his earlobe. "I've hardly left Gallifrey! The moans of those drab bureaucrats are still fresh in my mind, so, save for the High Council and, perhaps, the Celestial Intervention Agency, I doubt I've earned notoriety in any man's book. That's the sorry truth of being a renegade, dear boy. I am but a nomad. A vagabond. A stranger. Reputation is hardly my watchword." The Time Lord came to a sudden stop atop the manhole, his shoes clicking one final click as he did so. He slowly tipped his head over his shoulder, his eyes meeting those of the Cyborg. "Which leaves but one explanation for your knowledge, now doesn't it? You must come from a future point in my own timeline. Now, if you were a future friend of mine, I would have no doubt versed you in the dangers of interacting with a past incarnation of myself!" The Doctor looped his finger through the manhole and slowly dragged it open, a squeaking, wheezing hum escaping his lips as he did so. Two shaky legs were slowly lowered into the sewer. "Tell me... Mr... Suiterman, was it? Are you, perhaps, a Time Lord, or simply another fool who would risk jeopardizing the sanctity of the timeline in the service of his own needs?"


When one observes the timeline from the outside, its easy to say that history repeats itself. It doesn't. That said, it does tend to rhyme from time to time, especially when young men are unable to learn from their mistakes. Daniel Diaz was one such man.

Daniel's telekinetic blast pushed Forge away, just as he had intended. The Mutant was throw backwards into the fountain. His skull struck the fist of a concrete cherub. A fracture. A hemorrhage. Another death.

FORGE HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!!
KILLER: DANIEL DIAZ!
METHOD OF MURDER: KILLED VIA TELEKINETIC BLAST!
CRIME: VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER!

TEAM DEAD NEXIUM: 7/8 MEMBERS REMAINING!


"Oh... shit!" The Eleven cursed. It wasn't a curse of fright or surprise. He was frustrated. Or, at least, a large part of him was. The Six was furious. The Five was losing his mind. The Eight was doing his best to keep the peace. But with 11 spirits in revolt, 'peace' is a concept rarely experienced. The Eleven turned his weapon towards the fleeing child. He unleashed a flurry of wild shots in his directions. "Run! Run! It's been a while since we've hunted! We're coming for ya! We're coming for your whole damn clan, ya bastard!"



Daniel's 'hold' pulled the Missing Member and his prize out of Forge's cold, dead hands. Team OBLIVION's latest addition rewarded the boy with a nod of conviction. Without his intervention, he would have surely died. A life for a life. It had all been worth it, right?

Ramuda's chirping caught the Doctor's attention, drawing his head back out of the sewer. His eyes twisted into a tight squint.
"Hm! Looks like's brought a friend too! And who might you be, chap?"
View attachment 9092
"Colonel James Rhodes, US. Air Force," Rhodey dropped his box beside to manhole. "This kid just saved my l--"

"Oh... a soldier..." The Doctor groaned sarcastically, continuing his decent into the deep. "It's that just... splendid."

"We're in a Warzone, sir," Rhodey replied bluntly, unafraid to show his frustration. "A soldier is just what you need right now."

"Another 'tough-man' with a gun? Another chest-beating, war starting, saluting stooge?" The Doctor's voice echoed from the pipes bellow. "I think not. We we need are minds, sound and sharp. Unless you can provide us one of those, Mr.Roader, then I would greatly appreciate it if you could kindly send your burden elsewhere!"

"Believe me. I'm no moron." James replied through gritted teeth. He shot a tired look in Ramuda's direction. "You think he's going to be like this the entire time?"



"Old? Old?" The Doctor chuckled as he stepped off of his ladder. "I think you'll find that I'm barely a day over 239! In fact, my 240th birthday is fast approaching, and, if you would be so kind, I greatly appreciate it if your gift this year was a vow never to call me 'Gramps' again!" The Time Lord huffed. The sewers were dark, unbearably so. Without a torch or anything of the sort, Team OBLIVION would be left wandering blindly into the void. The Doctor tipped his head upwards towards the ladder. "Come on! Come on down! I'm not tasting any toxic substances in the air... Though, it does smell rather unpleasant, truth be told. I think... I think I can see a fuse box down here. I might be able to get the emergency lights working!" He shot a finger skyward. "Young boy! You! With the pink-hair! I'm going to need an extra pair of hands. And Mr.Suiterman! Please, there's a gas main emitting an unnerving hiss a little up the way from here. If you could apply some pressure to it, that would be greatly appreciated... Oh, and if someone could make sure the Military Man keeps well away from my operation, that would be greatly appreciated! Even a simple procedure like this would no doubt blow his feeble mind..."

"Jesus Christ..." Rhodey muttered to himself. "Who the hell does this guy think he is?"


"No."
Rhodey hummed as Ifrit's eyes started to wander. He wasn't going to let her venture cafe-bound. Not now. Not with everything going on. "Ma'am, I'm going to have to firmly ask you to not."

RAMUDA AMEMURA// YASHAMARU// DANIEL DIAZ// CHASE DAVENPORT// HANK HENSHAW// THE DOCTOR// JAMES R. RHODES// JANET VAN DYNE
^ @Takumi @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi ^



Team NEXIUM
"Hm. You had me fooled too." Android 17 muttered, kicking Conner's corpse aside. "My money was on one of you guys painting the street with the other. Who coulda guessed that this guy was gonna bite it instead..." Returning to the fountain, 17 callously poked Forge's floating corpse. The Mutant's body bobbed like an apple, unresponsive. "Yup. He's dead. Dunno if the kid has even realized yet. Man. What a roller coaster..." The Android flipped Forge over and squinted at its battered face. "Damn. He had to get his headband all bloody. I was vying for that. Still. At least I've still got the old man's coat to look forward too..."



"Believe me, I'd love to put that ginger creep in the dirt,"
Android 17 smirked, parking himself against the fountain's bloody edge. He folded his arms and leaned back into the water. "But he's not here, is he? He's watching us, sure. He seemed to make that part pretty clear. But I'm guessing he's placing himself far out of our line of fire. Way I see it? We need to get the big-guy's attention. We could carve a bloody trail across the city, starting with that kid and his newfound friends, and avenge... shit... whatever his name was. We win Arcade's game, claim his prize, them pop a bullet in the creep's skull." 17 made a mock-gun with his hand and shot an imaginary bullet into the sky. "Boom. We get Nexium off of our backs, we fatten our wallets, we get revenge on the perv and we get to have a buck load of fun. That's the only 'job' I can see us doing... but... judging by the fact that we keep passing the role of 'the planner' around, I guess we're a democracy now. I'm open to ideas."

CIRI// SARUHIKO FUSHIMI// ZORA SALAZAR// EREN JAEGER// ALEXANDER ANDERSON// FORGE// ANDROID 17// THE ELEVEN
^ @Minerva @Ver @Capri @Gummi Bunnies @Crunch ^



Team DEAD HEARTS
Sinestro stared down Zora, his eyes unblinking and his cheeks untwitching. Thaal cursed his hubris. He damned it. He should have stopped Conner. He should have done something. Anything. But he had faltered. Hesitated. He had wanted to humiliate Super-boy. He had wanted to show his fellow Conscripts the dangers of disobedience and dissent. Well. He had succeeded. And his prize? A young boys corpse, and another coat of shame to paint upon a lifetime of regret. The light in his ring started to fade. He ceased his hovering and returned to the streets bellow.

The once crowded street was no a ghostly and barren. The civilians that had once infested the square had all fled and gone. Now, they were alone, save for the bodies, each marked by a burning, carriage wheel tombstone. All this chaos... All this death... and for what?

"Unfortunately, you are correct, Josuke..." Thaal muttered as his heels clicked down upon the cobblestone once again. That's right. Blame the enemy. Wash your hands of your part in proceedings. "We won't find any glory here. Forge's death changes nothing. We're fighting a losing battle. Retreat is out only option."

He didn't remove his eyes from Zora. He might have been surrendering more ground to Team Nexium, but he wasn't about to give them the satisfaction of seeing his back.

"Sewers. Alleys. Rooftops. Make the call."

MARRIANE VON EDMUND// JOSUKE HIGASHIKATA// DAN KUROTO// AIZAWA SHOTA// MATO KUROI// CONNER KENT// THAAL SINESTRO// JACQUELINE FALSWORTH
^ @Yun Lee @Capri @MagatsuNoImouto @Space_Candy @Gummi Bunnies ^


Team OBLIVION
The salesman took one look at the ruby and broke into a guttural laughing fit. His voice, still raspy from all his screaming, was clearly strained by his snickering. But the pain didn't phase him. Oh no, it wasn't every day he got to laugh like this.

"What's so funny?" Evie squinted, closing the distance between the salesman and herself. God, having her gear would have been a godsend right about now. "Is it something he said?" She added, bluntly.

"Nah, nah! It's that... bloody jewel!" He giggled. "The Huns have been flooding our markets with counterfeits, yasee! They're trying ta undermine our economy, ya see, and ya can hardly blame them! We're at war, after all! The Gov'mnt have suspended the trade of all crystals to try to slow the circulation of the fakes, but its hardly helpin'! Anyone caught tryin' to circumvent the ban gets sent straight to the tower, where they're to be hung as a foreign agent, no trial required. And here you are... just, waving one about in the street!"

The saleman erupted into another laughing fit.

"I'm sure many men would have such a gem above their own lives, sir..." Evie muttered, the gears behind her eyes turning faster by the minute. An idea was forming. "How about an under the table trade?" She whispered. "We leave the gem here... just... on the floor... We'll turn around whilst you clean it up, and you'll turn around whilst we clean up a few of dropped maps. Sound fair?"

"HA! No." The saleman chuckled. "Then, I'd be stuck with a worthless, fake gem. There's an appraiser down the street. He works in the antiques store, down by the alleys. He may-or-may-not be a Black-Market-Guy. Tell him Jackson Prozole sent you. He'll see if that rock is worth a damn. Might even buy it off you. But you didn't hear that tip from me. If you want a map, bring me back shilling, and I'll give you one. If you can't do that... well..."

Evie rolled her eyes.
"Wizard, you don't happen to have a... a spell, or something, that might be able to deal with him? Maybe you could banish him somewhere? Somewhere far from here, perhaps?"



"Sounds like hell..."
Evie replied, lost for anything else to say. She couldn't find the words of comfort she was looking for. Everything the boy was saying... it was so alien. So strange. So distant from the world she had once known. Understanding might have ben difficult, but empathizing wasn't hard. . She place her hand upon his shoulder and did her best to smile. "At least he made it home... Very few people can say that after going through something like that. As for the other teams..." The Assassin hummed, weighing up her options. "Team Prudence... The Team with that Pink Haired Girl, the child... and that old man. They ran away from the fighting, the moment things went to hell. If anyone's willing to listen to reason, it'll be them. They ran east of here... If they're still dragging that elderly gentleman about with them, then they couldn't've gotten far. We could still catch up with them, if we hurry."

SHANG TSUNG// SHION// PHI// MOLLYMAUK TEALEAF// SUIGETSU HOZUKU// EEVIE FRYE// GODBRAND// AKUMA
^ @Jeremi @Atomic Knight @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy ^
Team PRUDENCE

"Perhaps then this is nothing but a mistaken identity," Henshaw remarked. "I am nothing but a man trapped in the machine, and any involvement in time travel is happenstance." The arrival of their new member didn't strike much of a reaction from Henshaw as he surveyed the sewer. Again he'd use his heightened vision to try and see if there was something out of place. Getting down here this easily did not sit right with him.

@Takumi @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi Team Prudence




Team OBLIVION

"Oh of course. You will have to forgive me. My old age has finally started to catch up with me." Shang Tsung pocketed the ruby and instead pulled out for the layman was a simple shilling. The wizard handed it over to the salesman placing his hand on the sellers shoulder and looked deeply into his eyes. "I trust that will suffice?"

@Sark @Atomic Knight @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy Team Oblivion


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"He's probably just cranky, might as well get used it." Ramuda replied to Rhodes with a snicker, before humming to himself as he leaned to peak over the manhole.

"Okie dokie! Coming right down!~" he called, moving to follow Hank and the Doctor down below.

"Hey hey, you said you could replicate my mic yeah? I wanna see you do it if ya find the chance! Since I gotta get mine back later from that scaaary cowboy lady it'd be nice to have an alternative until then!" He said thoughtfully. Really, he just wanted to know if the guy could do it or not, it was a pretty big fucking claim that he could y'know?

There was a beat of silence.

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"Ooh, or a knife could work!" He spoke up, with a snap of his fingers as if he forgot those even existed for a second. He didn't, but Doc didn't need to know that.

"By the way you can call me Ramuda! Who knows if you get to see your 240th I might make you an outfit as a gift! Making clothes is fun, haha." He chirped as he made his way down, bouncing over where he heard the Doctor speak.

"Ya never know though someone might ask if you're my Grampa, it might make a good cover for something." He teased, a grin in his voice.

"Aaanyway, whatcha need me to do, Doc?" He asked curiously.

@Sark. @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi @Team Prudence

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"Mm, you're right." Shion gave Evie a small smile, grateful for the comfort. When she brought up Team Prudence, he brought his hand to his chin in thought and furrowed his brow.

"If we grt this map, then maybe we can catch up to them and see if they're willing to at least talk with us? If I remember right, that Cyborg is with them and he doesn't look too friendly, but I'm sure if he was interested in the fighting he would of joined in." Shion reasoned. He didn't know what the Cyborg was capable of outside of what he showed when going against the Arcades, but surely he'd hear them out if they had the same goal in the end, right?

@Sark @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi @Space_Candy @Team Oblivion
 
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View attachment 9094

"What a pain. It really is too bad Carrot Top doesn't just offer himself up on a silver platter and save us the trouble," Fushimi breathed as he relented after hearing 17 and Zora say their pieces. Fair enough then.

So that was that. If they'd have to assert dominance for the big boss to show himself and wager his throne, then so be it. Fushimi usually fancied himself a patient person who was no stranger to playing the long game, but certainly, it seemed Arcade had already quickly proven capable of getting under his skin enough to warrant an impatient streak out of him. Egg on his face as it was for letting the boy go after he ended up killing Forge, but such was life.

With that all said, the young man took a step forward, a worm-like smirk tugging at his lips as he stared down the Dead Hearts alongside his own teammates, raising both of his hands and drawing three throwing knives between his fingers in each hand.

View attachment 9101

"What's the matter?! What are you looking at me like that for?! Waiting for a sign from Godot?!" He cackled, his outward mood seeming to turn from 1 to 10 in a flash as he swerved his arm about and swiftly threw his six blades at the team's general direction!

"Fight or run, it makes no difference to me! Just as long as you disappear one way or the other! Just let me know what you wanna settle on!"

@Capri @Gummi Bunnies @Sark @Minerva @Crunch @TeamNEXIUM
@Capri @Gummi Bunnies @Sark @Space_Candy @Yun Lee @MagatsuNoImouto @DeadHearts
 
Eren could only watch Forge be killed by... that young boy with those forceful powers. Even with the Eleven hitching a ride on his Titan body, he couldn't go after Daniel as he's run off into somewhere else in the city, not exactly an ideal move to just split away from his group. Sounded like they were going to take a few more pot shots at the opposing team, even when the Dead Hearts were honing in on retreating on the spot. In his head, he kept telling himself, it's him or them. Anyone that got in his way, they were his enemy. Simple.

Making sure to not trample on his own teammates while stepping forward, the Titan balled up a fist before leaning down and delivering a powerful punch at the Dead Hearts.

Rock instinctively dodged the incoming blades as best as she could, only getting slightly grazed by one and leaving a minor cut through her sleeve and into her arm. Then as she was coveting her now bleeding arm, she realized that the Titan's punch was incoming next. The Other Self roughly used a cannon blast to the ground to launch herself away from the attack, rolling on the ground before returning on her feet.

Better than sticking around here... r-right! Black Rock Shooter, we need to escape to the sewers, okay?! Mato's voice resounded from Rock's body, realizing that this was the safest best to avoid more bloodshed for now. The Other Self hesitated but then obeyed Mato's word, turning around and running away from the fountain area with hopes that the rest of the Dead Hearts would follow suit.

@Capri @Ver @Sark @Minerva @Crunch
@TeamNEXIUM
@Capri @Sark @Space_Candy @Yun Lee @MagatsuNoImouto @TeamDeadHearts
 
ZORA SALAZAR & JOSUKE HIGASHIKATA
@Sark @Minerva @Ver @Gummi Bunnies @Crunch @Yun Lee @MagatsuNoImouto @Space_Candy

Zora let out a genuine chuckle.

"Carrot Top? That's funny," Zora said, a smile on her face.

ORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!!!

Soft and Wet punched at the knives, destroying one of them. Josuke grunted when he saw a massive shadow, as Eren tried to crush the entire team. Josuke rolled out of the way alongside Mato, and joined the girl in running.

"Looks lahk it's ya bloody trail plan, pardner," she commented to 17 based on the actions made by Fushimi and Eren.

Zora took out one of her time guns and fired several times at Mato, Josuke, and all those who tried to enter the sewers, all those her bullet touched being aged to death, even if it was a scrape.

"Hurry!" Josuke called out to the surviving members.​
 

Team PRUDENCE
"A wander like me? Reputable?" The Doctor's expression soured, as if he had just sipped a cup of vinegar. Hank's responses had unnerved him greatly. He craned his neck. He plunked upon his earlobe. "I've hardly left Gallifrey! The moans of those drab bureaucrats are still fresh in my mind, so, save for the High Council and, perhaps, the Celestial Intervention Agency, I doubt I've earned notoriety in any man's book. That's the sorry truth of being a renegade, dear boy. I am but a nomad. A vagabond. A stranger. Reputation is hardly my watchword." The Time Lord came to a sudden stop atop the manhole, his shoes clicking one final click as he did so. He slowly tipped his head over his shoulder, his eyes meeting those of the Cyborg. "Which leaves but one explanation for your knowledge, now doesn't it? You must come from a future point in my own timeline. Now, if you were a future friend of mine, I would have no doubt versed you in the dangers of interacting with a past incarnation of myself!" The Doctor looped his finger through the manhole and slowly dragged it open, a squeaking, wheezing hum escaping his lips as he did so. Two shaky legs were slowly lowered into the sewer. "Tell me... Mr... Suiterman, was it? Are you, perhaps, a Time Lord, or simply another fool who would risk jeopardizing the sanctity of the timeline in the service of his own needs?"


When one observes the timeline from the outside, its easy to say that history repeats itself. It doesn't. That said, it does tend to rhyme from time to time, especially when young men are unable to learn from their mistakes. Daniel Diaz was one such man.

Daniel's telekinetic blast pushed Forge away, just as he had intended. The Mutant was throw backwards into the fountain. His skull struck the fist of a concrete cherub. A fracture. A hemorrhage. Another death.

FORGE HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!!
KILLER: DANIEL DIAZ!
METHOD OF MURDER: KILLED VIA TELEKINETIC BLAST!
CRIME: VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER!

TEAM DEAD NEXIUM: 7/8 MEMBERS REMAINING!


"Oh... shit!" The Eleven cursed. It wasn't a curse of fright or surprise. He was frustrated. Or, at least, a large part of him was. The Six was furious. The Five was losing his mind. The Eight was doing his best to keep the peace. But with 11 spirits in revolt, 'peace' is a concept rarely experienced. The Eleven turned his weapon towards the fleeing child. He unleashed a flurry of wild shots in his directions. "Run! Run! It's been a while since we've hunted! We're coming for ya! We're coming for your whole damn clan, ya bastard!"



Daniel's 'hold' pulled the Missing Member and his prize out of Forge's cold, dead hands. Team OBLIVION's latest addition rewarded the boy with a nod of conviction. Without his intervention, he would have surely died. A life for a life. It had all been worth it, right?

Ramuda's chirping caught the Doctor's attention, drawing his head back out of the sewer. His eyes twisted into a tight squint.
"Hm! Looks like's brought a friend too! And who might you be, chap?"
View attachment 9092
"Colonel James Rhodes, US. Air Force," Rhodey dropped his box beside to manhole. "This kid just saved my l--"

"Oh... a soldier..." The Doctor groaned sarcastically, continuing his decent into the deep. "It's that just... splendid."

"We're in a Warzone, sir," Rhodey replied bluntly, unafraid to show his frustration. "A soldier is just what you need right now."

"Another 'tough-man' with a gun? Another chest-beating, war starting, saluting stooge?" The Doctor's voice echoed from the pipes bellow. "I think not. We we need are minds, sound and sharp. Unless you can provide us one of those, Mr.Roader, then I would greatly appreciate it if you could kindly send your burden elsewhere!"

"Believe me. I'm no moron." James replied through gritted teeth. He shot a tired look in Ramuda's direction. "You think he's going to be like this the entire time?"



"Old? Old?" The Doctor chuckled as he stepped off of his ladder. "I think you'll find that I'm barely a day over 239! In fact, my 240th birthday is fast approaching, and, if you would be so kind, I greatly appreciate it if your gift this year was a vow never to call me 'Gramps' again!" The Time Lord huffed. The sewers were dark, unbearably so. Without a torch or anything of the sort, Team OBLIVION would be left wandering blindly into the void. The Doctor tipped his head upwards towards the ladder. "Come on! Come on down! I'm not tasting any toxic substances in the air... Though, it does smell rather unpleasant, truth be told. I think... I think I can see a fuse box down here. I might be able to get the emergency lights working!" He shot a finger skyward. "Young boy! You! With the pink-hair! I'm going to need an extra pair of hands. And Mr.Suiterman! Please, there's a gas main emitting an unnerving hiss a little up the way from here. If you could apply some pressure to it, that would be greatly appreciated... Oh, and if someone could make sure the Military Man keeps well away from my operation, that would be greatly appreciated! Even a simple procedure like this would no doubt blow his feeble mind..."

"Jesus Christ..." Rhodey muttered to himself. "Who the hell does this guy think he is?"


"No."
Rhodey hummed as Ifrit's eyes started to wander. He wasn't going to let her venture cafe-bound. Not now. Not with everything going on. "Ma'am, I'm going to have to firmly ask you to not."

RAMUDA AMEMURA// YASHAMARU// DANIEL DIAZ// CHASE DAVENPORT// HANK HENSHAW// THE DOCTOR// JAMES R. RHODES// JANET VAN DYNE
^ @Takumi @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi ^
Team PRUDENCE

"Perhaps then this is nothing but a mistaken identity," Henshaw remarked. "I am nothing but a man trapped in the machine, and any involvement in time travel is happenstance." The arrival of their new member didn't strike much of a reaction from Henshaw as he surveyed the sewer. Again he'd use his heightened vision to try and see if there was something out of place. Getting down here this easily did not sit right with him.

@Takumi @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi Team Prudence
tumblr_prbeafjO1P1vn5kel_400.png


"He's probably just cranky, might as well get used it." Ramuda replied to Rhodes with a snicker, before humming to himself as he leaned to peak over the manhole.

"Okie dokie! Coming right down!~" he called, moving to follow Hank and the Doctor down below.

"Hey hey, you said you could replicate my mic yeah? I wanna see you do it if ya find the chance! Since I gotta get mine back later from that scaaary cowboy lady it'd be nice to have an alternative until then!" He said thoughtfully. Really, he just wanted to know if the guy could do it or not, it was a pretty big fucking claim that he could y'know?

There was a beat of silence.

f1a3211afac4df63173b278262628c883c0c276f.jpg


"Ooh, or a knife could work!" He spoke up, with a snap of his fingers as if he forgot those even existed for a second. He didn't, but Doc didn't need to know that.

"By the way you can call me Ramuda! Who knows if you get to see your 240th I might make you an outfit as a gift! Making clothes is fun, haha." He chirped as he made his way down, bouncing over where he heard the Doctor speak.

"Ya never know though someone might ask if you're my Grampa, it might make a good cover for something." He teased, a grin in his voice.

"Aaanyway, whatcha need me to do, Doc?" He asked curiously.

@Sark. @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi @Team Prudence
Ifrit
@Sark @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi @Takumi @Team Prudence

The very air around her seemed to heat up a little when she was denied her request to get food, and in her hunger... She could hear a faint voice in her head once more. Urging her to abandon the others... To fend for herself. To burn the whole place down... Starting with the sewer, but like she had at Rhodes Island so far, she refused to listen, refused to even acknowledge it.

"Need food. Soon." She said finally.

She turned away from Rhodey briefly to peer down the sewer grate herself.

"I can make... Fire. But fire explodes in sewers..." She said.

Though she still seemed lethargic, she managed to shakily raise a hand, producing a rather bright, hot flame in spite of it being a mere demonstration. In the state she was in, she seemed to have some difficulty controlling its temperature...​
 
In all of the chaos, Daniel had not even realized Forge's unfortunate fate. He was just grateful that the man he saved was okay. Daniel felt good hearing that he had saved somebody's life. Still, a part of him wished the man he had saved had been the missing Ouka.

"W-What can I do to help?" Daniel asked the Doctor. He was pouting at the idea of going into the sewers but he knew they really had to get out of there.

@Sark @Takumi @Yun Lee @Lucky @Jeremi @York @TeamPrudence



"I'm fine with diplomacy," Phi said casually. As far as she could see, there did not yet seem a point in fighting the other teams beyond simply surviving.

kOeY8fI.png


"Though, I wouldn't trust them so quickly. Sure, they got a kid, but Shion is right, they don't all seem so easygoing. Plus with the kid in mind, we don't really know what those people are capable of."

Still, definitely the best option out of the three teams available, as far as Phi had gathered.

@Sark @Jeremi @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy @TeamOblivion

 
"Hey hey, you said you could replicate my mic yeah? I wanna see you do it if ya find the chance! Since I gotta get mine back later from that scaaary cowboy lady it'd be nice to have an alternative until then!" He said thoughtfully. Really, he just wanted to know if the guy could do it or not, it was a pretty big fucking claim that he could y'know?

There was a beat of silence.

"Ooh, or a knife could work!" He spoke up, with a snap of his fingers as if he forgot those even existed for a second. He didn't, but Doc didn't need to know that.

"By the way you can call me Ramuda! Who knows if you get to see your 240th I might make you an outfit as a gift! Making clothes is fun, haha." He chirped as he made his way down, bouncing over where he heard the Doctor speak.

"Ya never know though someone might ask if you're my Grampa, it might make a good cover for something." He teased, a grin in his voice.

"Aaanyway, whatcha need me to do, Doc?" He asked curiously.
Team PRUDENCE
"Let's... Let's avoid the topic of knives for now, hm?" The Doctor chirped, prying the fuse-box open. He signaled to Ramuda with a flapping finger, calling him to his side. "To be entirely frank, Mr. Ramone, I wouldn't trust you with a pair of scissors, let alone a bladed weapon. Now, if you could so kindly place your hand here--" The Doctor directed Ramuda's wrist over to the fuse-box and set it down upon a small, silver switch. "--Keep it pressed down until I say you can release it. In the meantime, continue to dwell upon your infiltration fantasies and fancy dresses, hm? Anything to keep your mouth shut..."

In all of the chaos, Daniel had not even realized Forge's unfortunate fate. He was just grateful that the man he saved was okay. Daniel felt good hearing that he had saved somebody's life. Still, a part of him wished the man he had saved had been the missing Ouka.

"W-What can I do to help?" Daniel asked the Doctor. He was pouting at the idea of going into the sewers but he knew they really had to get out of there.
The very air around her seemed to heat up a little when she was denied her request to get food, and in her hunger... She could hear a faint voice in her head once more. Urging her to abandon the others... To fend for herself. To burn the whole place down... Starting with the sewer, but like she had at Rhodes Island so far, she refused to listen, refused to even acknowledge it.

"Need food. Soon." She said finally.

She turned away from Rhodey briefly to peer down the sewer grate herself.

"I can make... Fire. But fire explodes in sewers..." She said.

Though she still seemed lethargic, she managed to shakily raise a hand, producing a rather bright, hot flame in spite of it being a mere demonstration. In the state she was in, she seemed to have some difficulty controlling its temperature...
"Perhaps then this is nothing but a mistaken identity," Henshaw remarked. "I am nothing but a man trapped in the machine, and any involvement in time travel is happenstance." The arrival of their new member didn't strike much of a reaction from Henshaw as he surveyed the sewer. Again he'd use his heightened vision to try and see if there was something out of place. Getting down here this easily did not sit right with him.
"Ah..." The Doctor froze at the suggestion of Daniel providing him some assistance. A concerned specter loomed behind his eyes. He chewed upon his gaunt cheeks. "Yes... of course, young man. Just... stand by my side. Right here. Away from the wall. Come, come..." The Doctor placed his hand upon Daniel's chest and forcibly slid him out of the path of some unseen harm. "Quickly. Quickly..."

"Easy now..." Rhodey called down from the surface. He placed his hand upon Ifrit's shoulder and did his best to hoist her up. "Where there are sewers, there's methane. If your fire explodes down there, you could take out the whole--"

BOOOM!

Concrete soared high above the rooftops. Smoke. Shrapnel. Ribbons of fire seared the sky. James and Ifrit were tossed like ragdolls, a concussive wave forcing them away from the manhole. "Cover!" Rhodey roared, dragging Ifrit into a nearby alley. He turned his eyes towards the few, remaining pedestrians. "Get down! Everyone get down!"

Chunks of concrete rained down upon the city.

"Oh of course. You will have to forgive me. My old age has finally started to catch up with me." Shang Tsung pocketed the ruby and instead pulled out for the layman was a simple shilling. The wizard handed it over to the salesman placing his hand on the sellers shoulder and looked deeply into his eyes. "I trust that will suffice?"
"Mm, you're right." Shion gave Evie a small smile, grateful for the comfort. When she brought up Team Prudence, he brought his hand to his chin in thought and furrowed his brow.

"If we grt this map, then maybe we can catch up to them and see if they're willing to at least talk with us? If I remember right, that Cyborg is with them and he doesn't look too friendly, but I'm sure if he was interested in the fighting he would of joined in." Shion reasoned. He didn't know what the Cyborg was capable of outside of what he showed when going against the Arcades, but surely he'd hear them out if they had the same goal in the end, right?
"I'm fine with diplomacy," Phi said casually. As far as she could see, there did not yet seem a point in fighting the other teams beyond simply surviving.

"Though, I wouldn't trust them so quickly. Sure, they got a kid, but Shion is right, they don't all seem so easygoing. Plus with the kid in mind, we don't really know what those people are capable of."

Still, definitely the best option out of the three teams available, as far as Phi had gathered.
Team OBLIVION
"Now... that wasn't too hard, was it?" The Salesman chirped, snatching the shilling from the Wizard's hand. The Salesman's eyes had triggered a change within him. It was hard to describe. Hard to pin point. But it was almost as if he had suddenly recognized the old wizard. He reached into his jacket and offered Shang a pair of crisp, clean maps. With a smile and tip of his hat, he bid them farewell. "Have another one on the house. Have a good day, now..."

"Thank you, sir," Evie tipped her head and paid the man with a smile. She plucked one of the maps from his hand and tucked it away inside her jacket. "And the same to you. Now..." The Assassin broke away from the queue and started to run after Team Prudence, gesturing for her team to follow. "We've wasted enough time here as it is. Let's get a move on. If we're going to get the others on side... or at least, if we want to try and get through to them, we're going to have to move quickly. I'm guess that the old man is slow enough, but I'm willing to wager that a situation as dire as this is enough to put a spring in even his step. If he's as spry as Shang, then we might--"

Evie stopped at the edge of the street. She squinted down the road, observing two blurry figures in the distance.
"Those people... they're the strangers from Team Oblivion! They're heading into the sewers, we can still---"

BOOOM!

Concrete soared high above the rooftops. Smoke. Shrapnel. Ribbons of fire seared the sky. One member of Team Prudence ran and ducked for cover, screaming for some nearby pedestrians to do the same. He dragged his comrade down an alley after him. Team Oblivion, were met with a raging win and the roar of a charging dust clown. The flash of the flames were enough to momentarily blind them, but the stun didn't last. The frightened screams of some nearby civilians were enough to sober their stunned senses.

"Get down! Everybody, get down!"

Zora let out a genuine chuckle.

"Carrot Top? That's funny," Zora said, a smile on her face.

ORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!!!

Soft and Wet punched at the knives, destroying one of them. Josuke grunted when he saw a massive shadow, as Eren tried to crush the entire team. Josuke rolled out of the way alongside Mato, and joined the girl in running.

"Looks lahk it's ya bloody trail plan, pardner," she commented to 17 based on the actions made by Fushimi and Eren.

Zora took out one of her time guns and fired several times at Mato, Josuke, and all those who tried to enter the sewers, all those her bullet touched being aged to death, even if it was a scrape.

"Hurry!" Josuke called out to the surviving members.
Better than sticking around here... r-right! Black Rock Shooter, we need to escape to the sewers, okay?! Mato's voice resounded from Rock's body, realizing that this was the safest best to avoid more bloodshed for now. The Other Self hesitated but then obeyed Mato's word, turning around and running away from the fountain area with hopes that the rest of the Dead Hearts would follow suit.
Team DEAD HEARTS
A fist, falling like a hammer, was enough the scatter the Dead Hearts. Sinestro ducked and ran mere moments after Josuke and Mato had fallen back. He had avoided the Titan's wrath by a hair's breadth. He was off his game. He wasn't thinking clearly. Couldn't focus. He should have held his ground. He should have paid better attention. He should have summoned a construct. He should have done something- anything- to cripple the beast. Instead, its hand hovered 5 feet off of the ground, repelled only by the strength of Spitfire.
View attachment 9103
"Sewers!" Spitfire growled with excursion as she slowly forced the creature's fist from her person. "Hurry! Get out of h--"

SHNKT

A dagger tore through Jackie's abdomen. A flesh wound. A bloody flesh wound. A cripplingly painful flesh found, but if she could reach a doctor in time, she still stood a chance at surviving. She fell onto her hands and knees and started to scurry run through her agony. All she had to do was--

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Three bullets lodged themselves in Spitfire's back. She parted her lips to scream. Her cries were lost somewhere in her throat. She fell forward, still, irresponsible but still, breathing. Her pulse was rapidly slowing. The aging effects of Zora's bullets didn't seem to phase the Spitfire, but bullets were bullets. They weren't part of a balanced diet.

Sinestro called forth a golden barrier to shelter his allies from the projectile storm. Every bullet it deflected seemed to drain his ring at an alarming rate, but he held strong. 90%, 80%, 70%. It would remain functional for much longer. 60%. 50% 40%. Sinetro hoisted Jackie up onto his shoulder. 35%. 30%. He started to sprint after Josuke and Mato, a bloody trail staining the streets behind him. 25%. 20%. The last of the Dead Hearts vanished around the street corner.

With a flash of gold, Sinestro sent the cover flying up a nearby manhole.

"Everyone inside! They won't give up this easily! Get in!"

6 boots touched down upon the sewer floor. A protective, hard-light second skin crawled across Jackie's person, shielding her from infection. Another flash of golden welded the manhole shut behind the Dead Hearts.

"It won't hold them. They'll follow the bread crumbs. They'll follow the blood." He snapped with conviction. "We need to keep moving. Just because the Titan can't follow us down here doesn't mean that--" He froze. "Shh! Voices!" He whispered, pressing his back against the wall. "From up tunnel!"

"Ya never know though someone might ask if you're my Grampa, it might make a good cover for something... Anyway, what do you need me to do, Doc?"
"Keep it pressed down until I say you can release it. In the meantime, continue to dwell upon your infiltration fantasies and fancy dresses, hm? Anything to keep your mouth shut..."
"W-What can I do to help?"
"Ah... Yes... of course, young man. Just... stand by my side. Right here. Away from the wall. Come, come... Quickly... Quickly..."
"I can make fire--"
"Easy now--"


"What on Earth are they---?"

BOOOM!

The sewers trembled. A wave of smoke and ash screamed down the throat of the sewer and washed over the Dead Hearts. The forced of the cloud alone was enough to knock the Conscripts onto their backs. The deafening roar of the explosion itself was enough to send their heads spinning and the ears ringing. The explosion had been close. Too close.

Footsteps. Overhead. A group of Conscripts were charging towards the explosion.

"What a pain. It really is too bad Carrot Top doesn't just offer himself up on a silver platter and save us the trouble," Fushimi breathed as he relented after hearing 17 and Zora say their pieces. Fair enough then.

So that was that. If they'd have to assert dominance for the big boss to show himself and wager his throne, then so be it. Fushimi usually fancied himself a patient person who was no stranger to playing the long game, but certainly, it seemed Arcade had already quickly proven capable of getting under his skin enough to warrant an impatient streak out of him. Egg on his face as it was for letting the boy go after he ended up killing Forge, but such was life.

With that all said, the young man took a step forward, a worm-like smirk tugging at his lips as he stared down the Dead Hearts alongside his own teammates, raising both of his hands and drawing three throwing knives between his fingers in each hand.

"What's the matter?! What are you looking at me like that for?! Waiting for a sign from Godot?!" He cackled, his outward mood seeming to turn from 1 to 10 in a flash as he swerved his arm about and swiftly threw his six blades at the team's general direction!

"Fight or run, it makes no difference to me! Just as long as you disappear one way or the other! Just let me know what you wanna settle on!"
Zora let out a genuine chuckle.

"Carrot Top? That's funny," Zora said, a smile on her face.

ORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!!!

Soft and Wet punched at the knives, destroying one of them. Josuke grunted when he saw a massive shadow, as Eren tried to crush the entire team. Josuke rolled out of the way alongside Mato, and joined the girl in running.

"Looks lahk it's ya bloody trail plan, pardner," she commented to 17 based on the actions made by Fushimi and Eren.

Zora took out one of her time guns and fired several times at Mato, Josuke, and all those who tried to enter the sewers, all those her bullet touched being aged to death, even if it was a scrape.

"Hurry!" Josuke called out to the surviving members.
Eren could only watch Forge be killed by... that young boy with those forceful powers. Even with the Eleven hitching a ride on his Titan body, he couldn't go after Daniel as he's run off into somewhere else in the city, not exactly an ideal move to just split away from his group. Sounded like they were going to take a few more pot shots at the opposing team, even when the Dead Hearts were honing in on retreating on the spot. In his head, he kept telling himself, it's him or them. Anyone that got in his way, they were his enemy. Simple.

Making sure to not trample on his own teammates while stepping forward, the Titan balled up a fist before leaning down and delivering a powerful punch at the Dead Hearts.
Team NEXIUM
View attachment 9104
"Bravo!" Android 17 applauded with a smirk. "You really put the fear of Godot in them... whatever the Hell that is. Another Conscript's down and out, and I didn't even have to get off of my ass... Arcade made a big mistake putting the lot of us together, let me tell ya..." With a hum, 17 kicked himself up off of the edge of the fountain and returned to the remainder of his team. "Whatever advantage the Dead Hearts once had? It's long gone. Unless that blonde chick checks in with a doctor in the next hour or so, we can count that as another point for us. That's another man down, gents. Give yourselves a pat on the back."

"Don't count your hens until they're on your plate, Android..." The Eleven hissed as he stepped off of the Titan's wrist. "Have you ever been down into the sewers of a city like this?"

"Judging by the look of your..." 17 smirked. "I'm guessing that you're familiar with them."

"Remarkable. The Android thinks he's a comedian." The Time Lord sneered, his demeanor shifting again. His tone was cold. Cutting. He carried himself taller them before. His eyes were somehow darker. "Think about it critically. This city is enormous. Its sewers no doubt stretch on for miles. It'll be dark. Their movements will be sheltered by their echoes. If we attack them whilst their down there, then they'll have a home-ground advantage. We'd be ambushed. We'd be vulnerable. Without the Titan, we could very well be killed... or at least, you very well might be..."

"What's that supposed to mean?" 17's smile faded. His arms folded across his chest.

"It simply means that I have a few more tricks up my sleeve than my appearance might reveal..." The Time Lord grinned. "But that's not important right now. No... No. Right now we need for form a plan. Something prudent. Something careful. We cannot simply jump into the sewers and start blowing things u--"

BOOOM!

"You hear that?" Android 17 chuckled. He turned towards the site of the blast and started to drink in its direction. "That's the sound of the party starting without us!"

"Perhaps then this is nothing but a mistaken identity," Henshaw remarked. "I am nothing but a man trapped in the machine, and any involvement in time travel is happenstance." The arrival of their new member didn't strike much of a reaction from Henshaw as he surveyed the sewer. Again he'd use his heightened vision to try and see if there was something out of place. Getting down here this easily did not sit right with him.
Team PRUDENCE/OBLIVION/NEXIUM/DEAD HEART
The smoke from the blast was already starting to clear. At the heart of the blast, Hank Henshaw knelt, the victim of a targeted gas-main explosion. Smoldering, but alive, the Cyborg's systems were sent into a flurrying cycle of reboots and reloads. The Doctor stepped away from the fuse-box, a mischievous grin pinned to his lips. He writhed his fingers around a small, silver object. An override filter, by the looks of things. The explosion was no accident. It was an assassination attempt.

"My, my!" The Doctor chirped as he cautious approached the Cyborg. "You're still alive! What a resilient soul you are!" He raised a hand behind him, signaling for Ramuda and Daniel to stay back. The Doctor protected children. It was simply what he did. There was no point defying that golden rule. Not yet, anyway. "Stay put, my dear friends... this man is a very dangerous individual! A murderer! A backstabber! A genocidal maniac intent on killing each and everyone of us, regardless of our Team Allegiances!" The Doctor continued his approach, as cautiously as a hunter might approach a wounded predator. "Got anything to say for yourself, hm? Or are you speech centers still recovering? No matter... I was planning on doing all the talking myself, anyway..." The Doctor crouched down beside Henshaw. Electricity continued crackled across the Cyborg's mechanical parts. The Doctor set the override filter down upon the machine-man head, like a treat on a dog's nose. "There's a good boy." He chuckled. "Tell me, Mr. Henshaw: What type of buffoon do you take me for? A case of mistaken identity? No... you know exactly how I am, don't you? And I know exactly who your are, in turn. You'd be wise to stay out of my way, old chap. I shan't warn you again." The Doctor picked himself up off of the floor and dusted down his trousers. He lightly ruffled Henshaw's hair. "Ah, don't worry. Your systems will be back online shorty. You'll be fine before you know it." The Doctor doesn't kill after all. "Though... by then, we'll all be long gone. We. Ha. I am exclusively referring to my companions and I, of course. In our absence, you'll find yourself in some new company... though I doubt they shall be as merciful as I..."

The Time Lord wrapped his scarf around his mouth and coughed up a lung-full of smoke. He stepped away from the Cyborg and returned to his team. The smoky haze was growing thicker by the second. The Doctor placed his hands upon the backs of Ramuda and Daniel and pushed them until they ran. The Time Lord wrapped his scarf around his mouth and coughed up a lung-full of smoked. "Get out! Everyone! We must leave him! Remember: He would have done far worse to us, had we given him the chance, believe me!" He wheezed. "Hurry! Down the tunnel!"

Around the corner, Sinestro raised his ring. His brow was bejeweled with sweat. His fingers twitched. He couldn't bring himself the blink. Footsteps. Voices. Explosions. They were bad omens, to say the least.
View attachment 9107
"We've got company inbound, Dead Hearts! Prepare yourselves! Anticipate hostility!"

[18% Remaining]

Above ground, Evie offered the elderly wizard an arm to lean upon. Hidden under a veil of smoke, Team Oblivion watched helplessly 17 soared overhead. The Eleven wandered through the smoke after him, oblivious to Oblivion's presence. The Assassin pressed her fingers to her lips as Team Nexium approached the scene.
"Shh... Nobody panic... No sudden movements... they can't see us... they don't know we're here..."

Android 17's cold eyes locked onto the body of the wounded Cyborg Superman. The Sewer's latest skylight gave the conscripts an excelent view of the kneeling Kryptonian. "Hey, Gents!" He called out to the rest of Team Nexium. "You'll never guess who I've found... And you'll never guess what he's kneeling in..."

From the cove of a nearby alleyway, Rhodey coughed himself away. "This..." Rhodey wheezed, offering Ifrit a hand. "This makes no sense! Your fire didn't even explo--" The hairs on Rhodey's neck stood on their ends. "Something's wrong..."

With a hum and a hiss, the Cyborg's systems were fully recovered. The Hunt was back on.

SHANG TSUNG// SHION// PHI// MOLLYMAUK TEALEAF// SUIGETSU HOZUKU// EEVIE FRYE// GODBRAND// AKUMA
^ @Jeremi @Atomic Knight @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy ^

MARRIANE VON EDMUND// JOSUKE HIGASHIKATA// DAN KUROTO// AIZAWA SHOTA// MATO KUROI// CONNER KENT// THAAL SINESTRO// JACQUELINE FALSWORTH
^ @Yun Lee @Capri @MagatsuNoImouto @Space_Candy @Gummi Bunnies ^

CIRI// SARUHIKO FUSHIMI// ZORA SALAZAR// EREN JAEGER// ALEXANDER ANDERSON// FORGE// ANDROID 17// THE ELEVEN
^ @Minerva @Ver @Capri @Gummi Bunnies @Crunch ^

RAMUDA AMEMURA// YASHAMARU// DANIEL DIAZ// CHASE DAVENPORT// HANK HENSHAW// THE DOCTOR// JAMES R. RHODES// JANET VAN DYNE
^ @Takumi @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi ^
 
Team Prudence

Sadly. He was. If only this cheap attack had snuffed out the final sparks vanish into the machinery. No...he didn't have that pleasure. The Doctor he knew wouldn't have been so sloppy.

Something to remember for the future. "Idiots," Henshaw murmured as he got back to his feet. "If I didn't know any better, I'd assume you were working for Arcade personally." He pointed an accusing finger at 17 in particular. "A construct like yourself should understand the pointlessness of it. You were hired for one thing and one thing only. The death of Arcade. Everything else is trivial."

He then looked past 17 and the others and spoke into the darkness. "What will you do, Thaal Sinestro?" Henshaw spoke into the darkness. "Is this how the leader of the Sinestro Corps strikes fear in man? Cowering like a rat?"

@Takumi @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Sark Team Prudence




Team Oblivion

"It would appear our plan has evaporated into thin air," Shang Tsung remarked quietly to Eevie before a smirk crept unto his face. "Or perhaps a boon if we wish to...strike fear." Despite saying that the wizard still kept himself in the smoke to not let himself be seen.

@Atomic Knight @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy
 
ZORA SALAZAR
@Sark @Minerva @Ver @Gummi Bunnies @Crunch @Jeremi @Atomic Knight @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy


Paying no mind to Hank below the surface, Zora stepped forward after her keen hearing picked up a couple of words.

“...panic... movements... can’t see us...”
“...would appear... air... boon...fear...”

She walked forward, slowly, methodically, each step brings the clanking of metal and the rustle of bullets in their chamber.

She started to whistle an old slow melody, as if she was taunting her opponents to come out.

The steps stopped, the melody slowed, and as the final note rang out... the smoke started to dissipate, a result of her dialing back the amount of smoke in the area.


JOSUKE HIGASHIKATA
@Sark @Yun Lee @MagatsuNoImouto @Gummi Bunnies @Space_Candy

Josuke pulled out Soft and Wet, preparing for the worst.​
 

Though it seemed as he were absent, Aizawa was simply doing what he did best- observing. All the fighting seemed pointless, but he had a debt to pay. If anyone rushed his way, he'd just activate his quirk and hide- but now they were in full battle- it was time to be effective.

View attachment 9109

"I think it's about time I joined the action," and with that he moved, using his scarf to take the brunt of the bullets- making a sour face as the sewer water sloshed at his feet.

@Sark @Yun Lee @Gummi Bunnies @Capri @MagatsuNoImouto @Team Dead Hearts
----------------------------------------------------

"YAHOO!"

A man formed out of the water, a sharp-toothed grin plastered on his face as he pulled out his sword. He looked back and forth at the current state- the others barely noticing his arrival.


View attachment 9110

"Man, you guys all suck," he scoffed.

@Sark @Jeremi @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Takumi @Team Oblivion
 
Eren didn't expect for his fist to be held off like that, the Titan being forced away as the rest of the Dead Hearts team scrambled away. They mentioned the sewers, right? That... wasn't really a place he could go to, even if he tried something similar to what another Titan shifter pulled off when it came to people hiding in the underground tunnels. It wasn't like he could harden his Titan's skin, so if he tried stomping hard enough to break into the the sewers, he would just cripple himself in the process. He glanced at his arms, both were steaming from the passive regenerative effect. It wasn't like he'll be up at full capacity like earlier, in fact, it felt like his Titan body was almost practically spent. That in itself was odd, figuring that Eren could keep his Titan body going for a lot longer than this, but it could be the different type of enemies he was facing made it harder on himself.

Regardless, the Titan trudged on from where 17 called them over. Since, well, he couldn't communicate too well in his Titan body, Eren was at a loss on how to convey to his teammates that he didn't have much longer with this body. Once he got close enough, he couldn't stand upright anymore, and just like that, the Titan collapsed on the ground leading up to the sewers crude entrance and it didn't look like it would be in action anymore. It wasn't long until the enormous body began to... evaporate rapidly. From the nape of the Titan's neck, Eren emerged out of it, tearing himself away from the dissipating skin tissue that bound him to this Titan body in the first place.

tumblr_inline_p7ggv2Pjle1rhri0x_100.jpg


❝ ... doesn't this look like we could get taken by surprise here? ❞ Eren asked with an exhausted breath, equipping his mobility gear onto his person after his discarded Titan body's jaw went slack and released his spoils from the fountain area to the ground. Ignoring the fact that it was covered in warm saliva, the gear being intact was a miracle in itself. Aside from that, Eren cautiously stayed back behind 17 and Zora. He felt like he could faint at any moment, judging from how taxing his transformation into a Titan was to him.

During this, Rock observed that her teammates were preparing themselves for more incoming danger, giving an affirmative nod before readying her cannon in advance. She heard all sorts of voices, like the entire "cast" that Arcade's gathered for this death match were oh-so-dangerously close to each other once again. Just like that sewer explosion, all it could take was someone to pull the trigger in such a congested space, and all hell would be let loose... Rock and by extension Mato hoped that the chain result didn't introduce more loss of life.

@Sark @Minerva @Ver @Capri @Crunch
@TeamNEXIUM
@Yun Lee @MagatsuNoImouto @Capri @Space_Candy @TeamDeadHearts
@Takumi @Yun Lee @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Jeremi @TeamPrudence
@Space_Candy @Jeremi @Atomic Knight @Lucky @Takumi @Team Oblivion
 
Daniel didn't rally get how or why the explosion had happened, but in his shock he had no choice but to let the Doctor push him forward. He didn't care much for the cyborg but it seemed to Daniel this old man wasn't much better for company.

Once thy were a good distance away, Daniel stopped running and turned on the Doctor. "Where are we going anyway? Do you even know?!"

@Sark @Takumi



With their cover gone, the situation seemed grim, but to Phi it all seemed rather obvious what to do now.

"I say we get the hell out of here!"

Grabbing one copy of the two maps, Phi scanned it quickly for a place to go.

@Sark @Jeremi @Takumi @Lucky @Space_Candy @TeamOblivion
@Capri
 
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