{"id":29753,"date":"2026-05-10T08:23:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T12:23:09","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-05-10T08:23:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T12:23:09","slug":"encounter-1403","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/2026\/05\/10\/encounter-1403\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercy&#8217;s Saturday evening odd encounter(Axle)"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n    .edgt-post-text-inner p {\n        margin-bottom: 35px !important;\n    }\n    <\/style>\n<p><strong>Date:<\/strong> 2026-05-09 19:59<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><span style=\"color:#008000\">               (<\/span>Mercy&#8217;s Saturday evening odd encounter(Axle):Axle<span style=\"color:#008000\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#008080\">        [<\/span>Sat May  9 2026<span style=\"color:#008080\">]<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#a6ceff\">O<span style=\"color:#a4cdfb\">n<span style=\"color:#a3ccf8\"> <span style=\"color:#a2cbf5\">a<span style=\"color:#a1cbf1\"> <span style=\"color:#a0caee\">d<span style=\"color:#9fc9eb\">i<span style=\"color:#9ec9e7\">n<span style=\"color:#9dc8e4\">g<span style=\"color:#9cc7e1\">y<span style=\"color:#9bc7de\"> <span style=\"color:#99c6da\">B<span style=\"color:#98c5d7\">o<span style=\"color:#97c5d4\">s<span style=\"color:#96c4d1\">t<span style=\"color:#95c3cd\">o<span style=\"color:#93c3ca\">n<span style=\"color:#92c2c7\"> <span style=\"color:#91c1c4\">s<span style=\"color:#90c0c1\">t<span style=\"color:#8ec0bd\">r<span style=\"color:#8dbfba\">e<span style=\"color:#8cbeb7\">e<span style=\"color:#8abeb4\">t<span style=\"color:#89bdb1\"> <span style=\"color:#88bcad\">o<span style=\"color:#86bcaa\">u<span style=\"color:#85bba7\">t<span style=\"color:#84baa4\">s<span style=\"color:#82b9a1\">i<span style=\"color:#81b99e\">d<span style=\"color:#7fb89a\">e<span style=\"color:#7eb797\"> <span style=\"color:#7cb794\">a<span style=\"color:#7bb691\"> <span style=\"color:#79b58e\">w<span style=\"color:#78b48b\">a<span style=\"color:#76b487\">r<span style=\"color:#75b384\">e<span style=\"color:#73b281\">h<span style=\"color:#71b27e\">o<span style=\"color:#70b17b\">u<span style=\"color:#6eb078\">s<span style=\"color:#6cb074\">e\/span<\/span\/span><br \/>This part of town is clearly not the wealthiest. People in ragged, stained clothes pass by in small groups, rarely, if ever, going alone. A massive fence rises up along one side of the street, barring the way across a concrete expanse, which eventually ends at a large warehouse. The building is gray, formed of featureless brick. No other signs of life can be seen on the other side of the fence, save for a light peeking through a few cracks in the warehouse walls.<\/p>\n<p>It is <span style=\"color:#808000\">afternoon<\/span>, about <span style=\"color:#ffff00\">85<\/span>F(<span style=\"color:#ffff00\">29<\/span>C) degrees, and there are clear skies.  The mist is heaviest <span style=\"color:#ec0240\">A<span style=\"color:#e31442\">t<span style=\"color:#da1e43\"> <span style=\"color:#d02544\">M<span style=\"color:#c72b45\">a<span style=\"color:#bd2f47\">y<span style=\"color:#b43248\">f<span style=\"color:#ab3549\">l<span style=\"color:#a1374a\">o<span style=\"color:#98394b\">w<span style=\"color:#8e3a4c\">e<span style=\"color:#853b4d\">r<span style=\"color:#7b3c4e\"> <span style=\"color:#713d4f\">a<span style=\"color:#673d50\">n<span style=\"color:#5d3d51\">d<span style=\"color:#523d53\"> <span style=\"color:#473d54\">L<span style=\"color:#3b3c55\">a<span style=\"color:#2c3b56\">k<span style=\"color:#193b57\">e\/span<\/span\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s why you have to pronounce &#8216;diagon alley&#8217; correctly..&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> laments with a mock sigh following. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;.. That&#8217;s where the fun people hang out.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> remarks with a nod for Mercy. <\/p>\n<p>Maeve slips her knife from her pocket sheath as she steps out, falling into place in Axle&#8217;s shadow. <\/p>\n<p>The group steps out on the other side, that being a mirror placed rather oddly in an alley across from a fence. The street between is almost empty at this hour, with only a few groups of seemingly nervous people hurrying past. Spanning the opposite side of the street is a barbed wire fence, with an empty expanse of concrete behind it. Rising in the center of that emptiness, is a warehouse, gray brick forming a rather visually unpleasant structure. Its corners are just a bit too sharp, and yet it seems to somehow be slightly off-center in its design. With night falling, the warehouse is the only source of light, that dim at best. Through cracks in the brick, light seeps out, casting eerie shadows across the concrete. A single door stands facing the fence, large, and made of unadorned steel. It is closed, and the light framing it is the only thing that would differentiate its color from the rest of the brick. <\/p>\n<p>Now that the posse looks to have gathered properly, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> moves a hand to a thigh and flicks loose a strap. Make her handgun a bit more accessible and unholsterable, would the situation call for it. All the while, she looks the warehouse over, a pretty much featureless mass of rain-battered brick lit up by fading, eight-o&#8217;-clock sunlight. A bit of a hopeless look reaches her eyes, but it&#8217;s quickly replaced with amused expressions, as she mutters, &#8220;.. Well. This definitely checks the boxes. If it looks like a nothing-burger, there&#8217;s usually something.. interesting inside. I really should&#8217;ve bought that drone off Lykaia&#8230;&#8221;  <\/p>\n<p>A sigh, as she tosses the gym bag over so she can reach it. Open a side-pocket, and retrieve some handy-dandy binoculars from it. Might as well survey the place properly while it&#8217;s still calm out. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy whisks off her shades as they arrive and takes in the new surroundings through half-lidded eyes, as well as the occasional sniff to sample any interesting scents in the air. <\/p>\n<p>Yukino look harn <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo opts to observe for the time being with his attention drifting past what&#8217;s in front of them to eye the far ends of the alley. Gone, for now, are the wise cracks. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;.. Still want to get one for myself. Makes for some sick camera angles for shoots, panoramic pics, that sort&#8217;a stuff&#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> remarks as she puts those binos to the eyes, begins her quick round of surveying. &#8220;.. but that&#8217;d just be a cheap thing. Hers was so damn fancy.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Yukino glances along the harness she is wearing, making sure the SMG is properly secured, the blade is set, and then glances to Axle before her gaze turns forward again. &#8220;One might consider the night quite nice, I think.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Checking the group with a cursory look on the other side, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> nods. &#8220;Right. We gotta make it in there. The Ring is underneath.&#8221; He unslings his axe, settling it in his hands. &#8220;There should be security cameras somewhere around. Not sure where. But they&#8217;ll be watching. Bastards always are.&#8221; He glances to Selene. &#8220;See anything? Not sure if they&#8217;ll have guards on the outside, but I doubt it. They always kept them inside with the real entrance. This fence might be one of the biggest issues we got, side from cameras.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Maeve slides just that little bit closer toward the front, eyes skittering around at the warehouse, as though assessing each entrance, exit, window, in a moment. <\/p>\n<p>Evan looks at Regaldo &#8216;s axe and Yukino &#8216;s SMG. &#8220;Jesus,&#8221; he mutters, his eyes settling on his comparatively tiny revolver. &#8220;I feel a little underdressed for this.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Something Axle says makes <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy&#8217;s<\/span> expression turn to a slight frown. &#8220;.. Underneath? As in like, underground?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Why can&#8217;t we have this weather in town&#8230;&#8221; comes from <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> as a soft remark, the comment of Yukino about the night&#8217;s pleasant state distracting her briefly from her scanning. It&#8217;s probably a fruitless effort, anyways, as she&#8217;s nowhere near as perspective as the average local Supernatural. <\/p>\n<p>Aside from the single door, there are no further entrances readily within view. Nor is there any movement aside from the occasional passing group of people. Some cast the group strange looks, but none stop. In fact, at the sight of the six people gathered, armed to the teeth, they hurry along even faster. It seems the locals might be even more terrified of them than the night, by the plain fear on some of their faces. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;At least you&#8217;re wearing pants.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> remarks to Evan before noting, &#8220;Well, not for nothing, but we might be drawing attention either way just milling about. Any ideas on how we get into said building?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We might be a little&#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> starts, considering. &#8220;&#8230;Like a stone carried in the wind, if that is alright to say.&#8221; She tilts her head, looking up at Axle &#8220;Maybe we might consider just using that single door, perhaps?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Underground.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> confirms to Mercy. &#8220;There&#8217;s a tunnel down into a system that stretches for&#8230; I&#8217;d guess a few miles. Its filled with fighting pits, cells, rooms for guests and handlers&#8230; torture chambers. You name it. Its probably down there.&#8221; He nods to Regaldo. &#8220;First order is to get close enough to find those damn cameras. Take them out and we&#8217;re good until we&#8217;re actually in. There&#8217;s another door round back, if I remember right, but its got the fence all around, and the cameras are still there too.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>God, why is it always underground tunnels and tight confined spaces? &#8220;Aw man, uhh.. ever since I got fatter that&#8217;s kinda-&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy<\/span> cuts herself off and dismisses it with a flutter of both hands. No sense worrying about her weight now. &#8220;What ever I&#8217;ll manage.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Thermite. But.. that&#8217;s rather obvious.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> remarks, almost too chipper at the opportunity to suggest something with destructive, fiery potential. A glance aside, as she catches some of the stray residents noticing those in their group just standing there with visible weaponry drawn. &#8220;.. I&#8217;ll need some actual technology in my hands if I&#8217;m going to.. scan for electronic signals I could try and jam.. mess with cameras, perhaps.. Between the fucking Legion&#8217;s shit and over-spending to make sure our base is more welcoming and kitted out.. I&#8217;m still way too broke a bitch.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Lips pressed firmly together, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Evan<\/span> follows the group, keeping his mouth shut and trying to stay close to Regaldo and Axle. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo just stares blandly at Mercy when the girl calls herself fat only to shake his head. &#8220;Alright. So, need to find cameras. Any look with the fancy doo-hicky you got there, lady?&#8221; he wonders aside before stating, &#8220;Wonder if the fence is charged.. Could piss on it.&#8221; more to himself than anything. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo says &#8220;<span style=\"color:#00afff\">any luck, too.<\/span>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p>Mercy catches Regaldo&#8217;s stare, holding it with a slight smirk before his attention shifts. He&#8217;ll see. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;.. Don&#8217;t see much. Other than a whole lot of nothing.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> reports, sadly, though she does hold out the binos &#8211; would anyone else want to have a peek through the things. &#8220;You reckon they&#8217;ll be on some power grid we can&#8217;t just&#8230;&#8221; A pause, head shook. &#8220;No. They&#8217;ll have back-up generators. Nevermind. That&#8217;d be WAY rookie.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If you can find them, I can probably sharpshoot them, I&#8217;m sure &#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Maeve<\/span> pauses, looks at Evan, then back to Axle and Selene, saying, &#8220;Most of us can probably do so.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Not sure if they&#8217;re on anything.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> admits. &#8220;But who knows. The cameras really aren&#8217;t their best tool. They&#8217;ve also gotten a bit cocky. Stealing people off the streets in broad daylight nowadays.&#8221; He scratches his beard. &#8220;Could be they aren&#8217;t backed up. Could be the cameras aren&#8217;t even on. I never got a good look at the system they use.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to play bait.&#8221; remarks <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> right the fuck away. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;.. we haven&#8217;t even talked about pay.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> adds. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy points to Maeve after Selene brings up the idea of bait. &#8220;She looks the most harmless an&#8217; civilian so, you know..&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo shrugs, &#8220;Good way to fast track a promotion.&#8221; he states with a grin only to hold up his hand with three fingers, &#8220;I volunteer as tribute?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Yukino walks forward towards the single door of the building. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;See, that&#8217;s why she&#8217;s my favorite.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> remarks of Yukino, &#8220;Such a go-getter.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;No one&#8217;s playing bait.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> says, glaring. &#8220;Did I not mention the slavery bit? They&#8217;d take us all and we&#8217;d never see the light of day again.&#8221; Yukino&#8217;s movement catches his eye, and he turns, but too late, though that doesn&#8217;t stop him from saying &#8220;Yukino, what are you&#8230;?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Mercy says &#8220;<span style=\"color:#00afff\">Hope they go-get her then an&#8217; not us worst case. But maybe she got the right idea.<\/span>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p>Yukino turns her head to look back at Axle and answers &#8220;One might merely wonder if anything might happen by being like a leaf on the ground, it seems.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Maeve strays toward the building, murmuring, &#8220;Let me see if I can&#8217;t get a peek inside, if it&#8217;s not locked,&#8221; not asking permission. She won&#8217;t let Yukino go in alone, apparently, and probably a little more fearless than she should be. <\/p>\n<p>The street remains clear as Yukino crosses, coming up to the fence before there is even a flicker of anything. A brief flash lights the expanse. The light illuminates the way up to the fence, but no further. And, still, no movement. However, now light shines from three points, one close to each corner of the building, and one directly above the door. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m tracking every step I take, and we&#8217;ve two improved Killdozers parked in a garage out-of-town the Sons&#8217;d love to flatten this warehouse with..&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> notes, still having her nose wrinkle a little at the prospect of a party-wide outcome, or to suggest she knows even that mission would prove a difficult one. She looks around, for some random debris, some random rock or something throwable to stuff away into a pocket of her bag. &#8220;.. You ever play a stealth game? Bringing something that can make a little diversion&#8217;s worth of noise&#8230;&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo says &#8220;<span style=\"color:#00afff\">Looks like a carpet to me.<\/span>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p>without hearing anything else from Axle, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> arrives by the fence. She glances one more time back, seeing Maeve join her. &#8220;We might be able to cross the fence easily, I think. Might the miss require a little bit of assistance, if it is alright to ask?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Mercy keeps her distance and hunkered somewhat low but pulls the crossbow from her back as she watches Yukino and Maeve, just in case. <\/p>\n<p>Watching the pair from across the street, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> lets out a sigh. &#8220;I hope they didn&#8217;t just give us away. That&#8230; would be real bad.&#8221; He glances to the others, then lifts his shotgun, taking aim from the distance. <\/p>\n<p>Evan frowns when Axle says that. He grips his revolver tightly and hunkers down a little. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Ideally, I&#8217;m&#8230; not unathletic, but Ax will murder me if I end up bedridden for a couple days while my leg knits itself back together,&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Maeve<\/span> admits to Yukino, giving a warm-cheeked, apologetic smile. &#8220;I think he&#8217;s gonna be pissed either way, but&#8230; well, he picked me,&#8221; she offers, by way of answer. Her knife is tucked back into its sheath, and her gaze flicks about, eagle eyed as she is. <\/p>\n<p>The cameras, given away by their lights, are still on, the range of the light stopping just at the fence. <\/p>\n<p>Yukino narrows her eyes, after walking along the fence for some time. Then she stops and turns back to Maeve &#8220;One might be able to scale from here, perhaps. Maybe we can consider cutting lose the cameras scaling the building a little? Someone might say here looks&#8230; camera-free, I think?&#8221; She looks back, and considers more &#8220;Miss Mae, one might not be very sure but she thinks there might be a path hugging the wall that is unobserved.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Mercy kind of holds an ear out to try and overhear the two women talking, since they all seemed to have forgotten walkie-talkies. <\/p>\n<p>Maeve gives a soft nod to Yukino, murmuring over to her, audible for those with enhanced hearing, &#8220;I can&#8230; I&#8217;m pretty strong, and pretty dexterous, I just have to keep in mind that I&#8217;ll light up like a fucking Christmas tree if I push myself too far, and we&#8217;re around those more Infernally-blooded. Wall scaling would be doable, or I can &#8230; PROBABLY throw a knife through the cameras. I practice, a lot.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Cautious eyes track the movement of the duo of women, their conversations something she&#8217;s not even going to try and tune her ears in on. Most of the others stand ready with their weaponry, but she has pulled out a Zippo lighter, constantly flicking it open and shut with that telltale *click*.  <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;.. Do you have an estimation of.. how many people they&#8217;re likely to have holed up in there?&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> does voice aside at Axle, without her focus drifting off the two busy bees. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You lot catch any of that?&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> wonders of those gathered away from the fence. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;.. You think they found some way in?&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy<\/span> quietly murmurs to those still nearby, glancing to Selene at her own question and nodding to signal she&#8217;s curious on that, too. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy says &#8220;<span style=\"color:#00afff\">I think the nurse one is tellin&#8217; the other uh.. somethin&#8217; &#8217;bout christmas..<\/span>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p>Regaldo says &#8220;<span style=\"color:#00afff\">Oh? I love Christmas. The eggnog. The cookies. The carols.<\/span>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If they&#8217;re all downstairs&#8230; I might have enough chemical stuff to cause quite some suffocation down there, but we&#8217;d have to make sure they&#8217;d actually be locked in down there&#8230; and even that sounds like a far, far shot.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> mutters, expressions a portrait of her lingering caution and concern. <\/p>\n<p>Evan stares at Regaldo, mouth half-open. &#8220;You seem awfully&#8230;banal&#8230;about this,&#8221; he says. Nevermind that the other groups have a little bit of sass in the face of danger. Not this guy. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo responds to Evan openly, &#8220;I have no idea what that word means.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Yukino looks Maeve up and down one more time, then she turns to the fence and crouches low. &#8220;If miss Pierce might be able to hold on, one might be able to carry her along, I think. One might have some humble ability to jump.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Mercy bobs a nod to Regaldo&#8217;s comments. &#8220;Hey man me too. Dig all the lights an&#8217; food.&#8221; With another glance to Selene, she pauses to think on it. &#8220;.. You know maybe. Somethin&#8217; somethin&#8217; chrysler, if she push herself to the car around those infernal.. uhh.. yeah I got nothin&#8217;.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;My guess? About&#8230; a thousand handlers. Might be a few hundred thousand slave-soldiers, and&#8230; I don&#8217;t even know how many slaves.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> tells Selene. &#8220;And there is no, fucking, way, we are suffocating them. We&#8217;re here to free the slaves we can. Not kill them all.&#8221; He sighs, turning back to watch the women anxiously. &#8220;Did they find a way in? If they get seen&#8230;&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo says &#8220;<span style=\"color:#00afff\">Did they try adding blinker fluid?<\/span>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;.. Nobody bring along a laptop of sorts, no?&#8221; asks <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span>, to those around her, as she spends a little time making sure there are no other people checking them out. Never know if some other goons aren&#8217;t just patrolling the streets. But her attention turns back to Axle, whose response has her frown a little. &#8220;I never said suffocate them to death.. Just need the majority to pass out.&#8221; A pause, as she cocks up an eyebrow. &#8220;.. Hundred thousand people.. in this single building?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Maeve gives a nod to Yukino, not really minding being piggybacked, it&#8217;s at least more intimidating than being princess carried, and judging by how severe her limp is&#8230; well, all the same, she clings onto Yukino, plenty fine with whatever sort of movement. She doesn&#8217;t glance back, but she does tip her head, as though listening. But, head in the game, attention stays on Yukino. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Not in the building. In the building there might be twenty, if that.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> shakes his head, then points down to the ground with his shotgun. &#8220;Down there. Like I said. Miles of tunnels.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Hate when that happens.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> agrees with Mercy only to blink, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think I have enough ammo for thousands of guards. I&#8217;ve got&#8230;&#8221; he pauses to count, &#8220;Like maybe fifty rounds, if that. And my boot knife.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>As Yukino pulls grabs onto the fence, the barbed wire tears into her flesh, not causing much, but the laceration to her hand is noticeable, the bright spray of blood painting the ground. And while she may be incredibly strong and fast, the added difficulty of Maeve, being larger than herself, clinging to her foils the jump, causing something that, while possible alone, to turn into something rather strenuous. She makes it up a ways, and, eventually, over, though it is not without taking several more rakings from the barbed wire. Its only fortunate she lands in the line of the camera dead zone at least. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy hums thoughtfully as she keeps watching the women. &#8220;I could probably take out double digit amounts easily, but I&#8217;d also be takin&#8217; like a million bullets so you know, wouldn&#8217;t last long dependin&#8217;.&#8221; Apparently she really thinks so much of her weight that she could eat at least a few hundred bullets and keep walking. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll start chucking lots of molotovs to cause chaos then, which.. could definitely help, as experience tells me.. Before I start shooting, of course.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> remarks, going quiet as she catches &#8216;just&#8217; enough visual information to notice that the climb ended up quite the painful one. A quiet &#8216;ouch&#8217; is hissed out between clenched teeth. <\/p>\n<p>An incoming text makes <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy&#8217;s<\/span> phone go bzzzt and she pulls it from a pocket, then almost gives them away with a sharp squealy breath of excitement. <\/p>\n<p>hisses in a breath as he watches Yukino struggle over the fence, teeth grinding together, even as his lips curve up a bit at the corners at the sight of blood pattering to the ground. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo idly leans against Evan, since he&#8217;s probably the closest thing, mentioning casually as he watches Yukino nearly faceplant, &#8220;Well, that&#8217;s more than I could handle. I get shot a few good times and I&#8217;m down for awhile.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;M&#8217;sturdier than I look.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy<\/span> remarks to Regaldo while replying to said text. <\/p>\n<p>Evan stares at Regaldo. He almost loses his balance as the tank leans on him <\/p>\n<p>Yukino bloodies her hand on the barbed wire, which looks like a mild injury. She allows Maeve to stand up before she looks at it and lowers her hand. &#8220;One might have lost a little bit of blood it seems.&#8221; She starts tracing forward, saying &#8220;It&#8217;s a single path-way, it might be best if we consider walking single line here, I think.&#8221; She stops by the wall, makes space for Maeve, turns back and now asks &#8220;Miss Pierce might not draw too much attention if she might happen to destroy a camera, perhaps. A lot of people already ran away&#8230;&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Saw her take down a gigantic calcified sewer monster with one arm, like a damn a Devon Larratt in feminine form..&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> remarks quietly to the group, providing some Bardic inspiration for any would-be DnD dice Mercy might throw to impress if not intimidate her allies. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy snorts softly at Selene&#8217;s recount of events, staring off with fond nostalgia. &#8220;Ah yeah, that was fun. Minus the whole gettin&#8217; infected by spores an&#8217; kinda goin&#8217; nutty part. I gotta hire you as my PR man, yer good.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Maeve winces as she watches the blood fall, muttering, &#8220;&#8230;Shit, Yukino, y&#8217;alright?&#8221; Still, she does her best to stay attached, to make it not for naught. As they fall, and she&#8217;s let to stand on her own two feet, she nods at Yukino with a soft, &#8220;Probably quieter than anyone shooting them, yeah,&#8221; a knife slipped to hand from her supply. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;.. I was thinking of some arm-wrestle competition. I&#8217;ll get you a dope poster made, if I do so.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> offers to Mercy with a wink offered aside to the woman. But then, she goes back into business mode rather promptly, eyes alert as they try and find where the duo operates. She pulls her phone out, and starts to quickly sift through some contents on it. Pull open an app. Never know &#8211; There might be some networks, or devices, this tinkered-with phone can play with. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy is not so distant that she can&#8217;t witness Maeve&#8217;s epic failure, and with a sigh she hefts up the crossbow to step in. &#8220;Kinda far but maybe I can line up a decent shot.. you know if our cover ain&#8217; blown yet.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>The task is not easy, as breaking a camera with a thrown knife is expected to be. Maeve throws, and strikes the edge of the lens with the first knife. However, with a second the lens cracks from the impact. The light fragments, shattering into a pair of smaller beams with a line of invisibility down the center, small, but there all the same. Nothing immediately happens otherwise, though its fairly clear that someone likely noticed that knife. It might not be enough to bring down something on them, as it was probably just a glint, but all the same. <\/p>\n<p>From her position across the street, Mercy&#8217;s aim is a bit less than optimal, and yet its not the worst case scenario. Still, when she fires, the bolt is just slightly off, striking the wall a bit away from the camera and ricocheting off, landing somewhere on the ground a few feet from the wall. <\/p>\n<p>Well. That&#8217;s a curious find alright, as merely a quick scan already supplied a vulnerability the group can exploit. &#8220;You gotta be kidding me..&#8221; she goes, in a mocking tone still charmingly amused &#8211; &#8220;.. I can freeze a few of them for us.&#8221; She looks up from her phone, to Axle first, then over to where the others just braved the fence. &#8220;Give me the word.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> goes.  <\/p>\n<p>And a thumb moves, hovering over the screen with a tension reserved sooner for launching nuclear weaponry. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy purses her lips as she watches the bolt go <i>tink<\/i> and bounce off. &#8220;.. Aigh&#8217; well. Normally I&#8217;d be like, you know, eagle eye accuracy an&#8217; shit.&#8221; She tells Regaldo, Evan and Axle, blatantly lying. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Seems that&#8217;s our way in.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> remarks with a thumbs up towards Selene while telling Mercy, &#8220;It&#8217;s ok. That was a fine kick.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It could help.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> nods to Selene. &#8220;If there is a backup generator, we might not have much time&#8230; but it could do something at least.&#8221; He shrugs, taking a few steps, then shrugging again, striding toward the fence, stopping a foot away as he begins to move to where Yukino and Maeve crossed. <\/p>\n<p>Yukino watches the camera gets knocked, and then the bolt as it falls along the way. She tilts her head, and then moves forward, slowly, towards the door. &#8220;Sometimes it can be a little difficult, it seems&#8230;.&#8221; Once by the door, she checks if the door is locked by pressing the handle down with her elbow or if it is a more one-side lock that can&#8217;t be opened from this side. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo picks himself up from his perch and joins the others. <\/p>\n<p>In defiance of all that display of martial prowess, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> freezes the cameras feedback with a simple execution of code. Perhaps some peculiar Fae thinks it&#8217;s funny to let all these troopers struggle to show their physical prowess over all of Clanker-kind. A single nod, and that thumb is slammed down as the digital infiltration does its work. Time to move, hurrying along with the others. &#8220;.. I say we just cut it. Might need it as a quick escape route, instead of all having to crawl over it, possibly ridden with bullet-holes and all&#8230; or..?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Maeve follows along with Yukino, providing cover, providing the keen eyes of someone who knows a taste of precisely what they&#8217;re walking into. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy hovers by Selene now to get a glimpse of what she&#8217;s doing, and because she isn&#8217;t yet emotionally ready to try and brute force her way into yet another cramped space with things trying to hit her. <\/p>\n<p>When Selene&#8217;s finger descends, the cameras flicker, dimming, and then dying. Though, only a moment later, they begin to glow faintly, powering back up, though for the moment, there is a break in their surveilance. It might just be enough, if they hurry. <\/p>\n<p>the look <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> gives at the door is blank. A hand reaches up along her harness, opening it, and there is a block of C4 in it. She deflates very very much. &#8220;One might consider miss Pierce to be very strong, perhaps.&#8221; She closes the pocket and takes a step to the side. &#8220;One might say&#8230; Shomin needs tto do this.&#8221; She looks at Axle, blankly. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> reaches forward, grabbing hold of the wires with his gloved hands. Muscles tensing, he begins to pull, attempting to tear a hole through the fence. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Welp, time for dumb luck.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> remarks as he just tries the door with every other attempt failing. <\/p>\n<p>And yet, the fence bends under his straining, but does not tear. The gloves save him from shredding his hands, but ultimately, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> accomplishes nothing but making a slight bulge in the net of wiring. <\/p>\n<p>Catching the shut-down happening, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> ushers a quick &#8216;go&#8217;, phone tucked away to free her hands in case she, too, might end up relying on having to cast Power Word Shank at something. As Axle steps up, perhaps spurred on to prove his worth after having learned of Mercy&#8217;s one-armed might, hope finds her eyes, but alas the fence does not budge. &#8220;.. I don&#8217;t think we&#8217;ve long enough for me to melt a hole through it, and.. boy it&#8217;ll draw some attention if we&#8217;re pulling out the thermite for this.&#8221; her words come afterwards, stepping up besides Mercy. &#8220;Shall we try, together. Girl power?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Mercy exhales heavily and sets her hands on her hips, staring after Regaldo with a brief, considering glance thrown Selene&#8217;s way. &#8220;.. I mean I could jus&#8217; go ahead an&#8217; bust it down if y&#8217;all want. M&#8217;basically the wreckin&#8217; ball here. It gonna make noise but we losin&#8217; time.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Miss Pierce&#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span> says, exhaling again, watching even Axle not manage with the damn fence. She detaches her SMG from its harness, wraps the belt around herself so it can hang from her, and then opens the pocket with the C4 again and picks one of the blocks out. &#8220;Maybe we should just consider being loud, perhaps?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Through some sheer, chance, Regaldo, strolling up to that fence, is able to find an opening, just large enough to squeeze through from the tugging. Turning sideways, confident as if he&#8217;s strolling through a field of grass, he slips through, one of the wires lashing across his chest and drawing a thin line of blood, but otherwise no harm is done, and in that moment, he is through. The cameras above are coming back, lighting up slowly, their light sweeping across the expanse. Still, there is a line of dead where Maeve struck the lens. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If they don&#8217;t know we are here,&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Maeve<\/span> starts, glancing toward the fence, toward Mercy, &#8220;Let the furry wrecking ball have a shot, then we&#8217;ll see if Ax and I can&#8217;t kick this door in the old fashioned way.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Save the wrecking ball for the way out. Let&#8217;s go!&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> urgers while rubbing the burning line across his chest while holding the fence open. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy perks up as it seems things are a go, ushering Selene along with her as she hurries to where Regaldo is holding the way open like a proper gentleman, to quickly duck and roll through. Did she need to? No, she wanted to. &#8220;Parkour!&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Stepping to the side, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> nods to Regaldo. &#8220;Good work. Damn good work.&#8221; He turns himself sideways, awkwardly ducking and trying to wriggle through. He does eventually make it, with Regaldo holding open the fence, though it likely looks quite comical. <\/p>\n<p>Here it might help not being the biggest in stature. Where Regaldo has created an opening, she moves to promptly, but unlike the enthusiastic Mercy, she&#8217;ll opt to try and make her way through it a bit more delicately. Probably smart, given the bit of extras here and there that might catch onto nasty, barbed metal. &#8220;.. Let&#8217;s go, gang!&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> does enthuse, as her turn to hop through is due. As soon as she&#8217;s through, she scurries up against a wall, and this is about as good a time as any to actually bring out that holstered firearm. <\/p>\n<p>With the group making their way through the fence, it is no difficult task moving down the dead lines to the door, joining up with Maeve and Yukino. <\/p>\n<p>Once everyone is through, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> eases the fence back and heads with the rest of the gang. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Baby, shall we crack open the door together?&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Maeve<\/span> asks up to Axle, batting her lashes. &#8220;I know you&#8217;re stronger than I am, a little, but I&#8217;ve always wanted to kick a door down.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Stepping up with the others, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> nods, moving to stand in front of the door. &#8220;Lets. Should be fun, at least. Hopefully it won&#8217;t make&#8230; too much noise.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Yukino slides the block of C4 back into its pocket, staring blankly at the group slowly making its way over. She places herself at the side of the door, SMG held at the ready. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy keeps back at the rear of the group, always seeming to maintain at least a few feet of distance between herself and them for what ever reason. <\/p>\n<p>There is a loud crack, and, under Maeve and <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle&#8217;s<\/span> strength, the door caves, hinges splitting free as the slab of metal goes flying. There is a sound from inside, and a thud. Then, the room is revealed.  <br \/>\nThe warehouse is large, but empty, aside from a single, heavy metal trapdoor in the center of the floor. Inside are four figures, two boasting sub machine guns, while the other two carry a baton and shield, and a hefty looking sword respectively. One of the gunners, unfortunate enough to have been directly behind the doors, lies unconscious from the impact. The others however, are already readying themselves, seeming to have expected someone to come through the door at some point, though apparently they weren&#8217;t aware of just when. <\/p>\n<p>Yukino mentions &#8220;An army of slaves are coming at us!&#8221;(Encourage) <\/p>\n<p>and just like that the real shit starts and <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy<\/span> flattens herself to a wall, firing the pre-loaded bolt and already getting another locked in. <\/p>\n<p>A murmured Infernal word, gestured toward Axle, and then <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Maeve<\/span> is in the thick of it, after all, and what is a lady with a knife to do BUT start stabbing? <\/p>\n<p>Well, shit; It&#8217;s go time the very second that door was kicked open with a loud THUNK. Into the fray <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> goes, singling out a single slave-soldier to shank him up as if they owe her a kidney. <\/p>\n<p>Yukino attaches the SMG back to her harness and instead draws out her blade and then pauses. <\/p>\n<p>The slave-soldiers advance, engaging the party with methodical precision, faces utterly blank as they move. <\/p>\n<p>Yukino mentions &#8220;One might say it helps them to sleep for a while, I think.&#8221;(Encourage) <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I dislike puppets.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> grumbles as he racks the bolt of his rifle. <\/p>\n<p>Stepping forward, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> strikes out at the slave with a shield, axe splitting the air before cracking against the other man&#8217;s shield. <\/p>\n<p>Remorse&#8217;ll be something we&#8217;ll ponder over if not drink away later. For the time being, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> is seeing red, with there being one clear thing hindering the group from being today&#8217;s heroes &#8211; that being these brainwashed beings. She&#8217;s only using a butterfly knife to do her work with, but that might just be quite a handy weapon for slipping past a shield or into some weaker parts of the body. <\/p>\n<p>Keeping in close to Axle, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Maeve<\/span> does what she can to draw attention, smaller as she is, letting him just straight up swing his axe overhead. <\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s no time for diplomacy but <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy<\/span> doesn&#8217;t seem too bothered by this fact, the tragic fates of these slave soldiers as far removed from her immediate thoughts as what&#8217;s left of her morality. Another bolt is loosed, and the next methodically slipped into the weapon to follow it as she looks from one target to the older with cold precision. <\/p>\n<p>Soon it&#8217;s just down to one more slave, and while bullets and bolts may be flying through the air, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> keeps resorting to solving the business up close and personal. <\/p>\n<p>Turning aside as the first soldier drops, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> sets to cutting down the second with brutal efficiency. <\/p>\n<p>Despite that famed Angellic empathy, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Maeve<\/span> seems unbothered as she drives her athame into bodies, people who likely have no choice but to fight. Still, blade finds a target, and she only pauses to wipe it off on the way out. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo shoulders his rifle only to spit on the ground, &#8220;Damn puppets.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>As Selene cuts down the last soldier, the warehouse falls quiet, only a single soldier left alive, and still unconscious from being struck by the door. <\/p>\n<p>Only once the last soldier falls does <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy<\/span> truly exhale, and take breath in. The crossbow however stays raised and her eyes cut from one area to the other in search of even the slightest hint of movement. <\/p>\n<p>Wiping his axe off on one of the dead soldiers, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> shakes his head sadly. &#8220;Damn them.&#8221; He curses, kicking the body aside as he moves for the trapdoor. &#8220;We&#8217;ve got no time. Lets&#8230; get going.&#8221; And, that said, he kneels, grabbing the trapdoor and beginning to lift. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Lucky fuck,&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Maeve<\/span> says as she steps over the door fragments near the one living person, heading toward the trapdoor. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy upnods Axle and finally shoulders her weapon for the moment. &#8220;On yer six.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;On your lead, Axle.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> remarks with a nod. <\/p>\n<p>Yukino sheaths her blade again, and steps up closer to everyone, keeping herself in the back. <\/p>\n<p>With a spray of red from the last, surgical cut across a neck, down fakks the last soldier. <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> just stands there a spell, looking at the stained blade, how the limited light reflects off it, before the metal gets brushed clean along a pant leg. A silent &#8216;click&#8217; sheathes the blade away, and she begins assessing the area they&#8217;re in. But onto the trapdoor the group moves, with her falling in tow only a little fashionably late, today. &#8220;.. Right behind you.&#8221; she, too, makes sure to offer over. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy says &#8220;<span style=\"color:#00afff\">Oh an&#8217; if y&#8217;all want me to like mow shit down to clear a path or what ever jus&#8217; say the word an&#8217; be sure to hug the wall or otherwise get the fuck out my way.<\/span>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> heaves, the trapdoor coming up with not a sound, revealing a hole, and a set of steps, leading down into a long, dimly lit tunnel. &#8220;Welcome to the Third Ring.&#8221; He says, jaw flexing as he releases the trapdoor on the other side, letting it come to rest before dropping down into the tunnel. &#8220;Lets hope our friends are feeling less friendly. No more welcomes.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Mercy eyes the tunnel warily, hesitating the longer she looks down its dimly lit, confined, cramped depths. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Want me to lead, or light shit up, do let me know, darling,&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Maeve<\/span> offers, quietly, to Axle. <\/p>\n<p>Maeve is following, obviously. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Its lit.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> says, voice a bit hollow now that they have actually reached the place. &#8220;Someone should take point down the tunnel. It will open up at the end. I&#8217;ll do it if needed.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll take up the rear. Long rifle and all.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> offers as the party gets sorted. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Want me to flashbang the fuck out of the first.. someone.. who sees us?&#8221; asks <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span>, fishing out a thing from her gym bag. A flashlight. A particular kind, which she holds out at Axle to accompany the suggestion. &#8220;Might get a jump on at least one or two if we&#8217;re fast..&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Mercy says &#8220;<span style=\"color:#00afff\">Guess I can take point, then y&#8217;all ain&#8217; gotta move worst case.<\/span>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p>Maeve gives a single nod, and suggests, &#8220;Mercy, with me up front? If shit goes sideways, I want you ahead of me&#8211;&#8221; in suggestion. When she&#8217;s already speaking up, she just gives a smile and quiet laugh. <\/p>\n<p>Yukino wraps her arms around her sternum. &#8220;One might need to depart very soon, I think.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Nodding to Mercy, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> steps aside. &#8220;Be my guest. I&#8217;m right behind you.&#8221; He readies his shotgun as he speaks. &#8220;Its a straight shot down. Tunnels start in the nexus.&#8221; A quick glance to Regaldo, then &#8220;Regaldo. Keep Yukino with you. Keep her safe. Not getting her hurt cause of some crazy lunatics down here. And believe me&#8230; there&#8217;s a lot down here.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo just gives Axle a single nod before throwing a thumbs up Yukino&#8217;s way. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Ayeah, sure, lemme jus&#8217;..&#8221; Awkwardly <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy<\/span> steps over some of the bodies on the floor, the heel of her boot slipping as it hits a puddle of blood though she thankfully catches herself. &#8220;Whoop- knew I shoulda worn somethin&#8217; grippier..&#8221; Their fearless leader into the unknown, she stops by Maeve, doublechecks everyone seems ready, and presses onward. <\/p>\n<p>As the party descends into the tunnel, lead by Mercy, the clearer light from above grows more and more faint, until it is replaced with the artificial glow of florescent lights. Eventually, after a walk down steps that seem never ending, the tunnel opens, vaulting high into a chamber as large as a football stadium. On all sides, tunnels pierce the stone of the walls. Each lit by harsh white lights. From some come sounds of laughter, music, and even some more erotic sounds, all faint from distance. Down others is nothing but eerie silence, or the sounds of fighting, occasionally broken by a distant scream or cheer. And down others, nothing but the rattle of chains, punctuated by the occasional whimper or moan from a dry throat. Those last sounds come from the most harshly lit tunnels, as if even the lighting in this horrid place seeks to make its captives suffer. The nexus chamber itself is clear, however. No tunnels are blocked, and no opposition comes against the group as they enter. The only possible danger here at the moment, is the echo that brings them the sounds, ever so slightly distorted by that same reason. <\/p>\n<p>Yukino feels her cheeks warm as her eyes lower at some of the sounds that reach here, her hands start to fiddle with the hem of her skorts. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy breathes easier the second the tunnel opens up- into a much wider space than she expected. Much better. Senses pique and she turns her head this way and that, trying to pinpoint what sounds come from which directions. <\/p>\n<p>Maeve takes tiny steps, an attempt to stifle some of the sound of her shuffling, limping gait, as she heads toward the sound of slaves, should any be in nearby tunnels. The sounds don&#8217;t appear to even affect her, probably not a surprise. <\/p>\n<p>No jokes come from the short, stocky man as <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo&#8217;s<\/span> gaze drifts from tunnel to tunnel. <\/p>\n<p>Drawn to the sounds that lean more towards suffering, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy<\/span> continues farther onward with an ear up and out to really try and hone in one the source of that one. &#8220;Think I maaaaaybe hear.. hmm..&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>All <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> really does it tag along, eyes on a swivel for something completely different, and something the little lass knows she won&#8217;t find here. She might also be one of the only ones wearing some ear protection for that hand cannon of hers, helping tune out most of the sounds that don&#8217;t alert her to direct danger. <\/p>\n<p>Stepping up behind Mercy, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> lifts a hand. &#8220;That section.&#8221; He says, pointing straight ahead. &#8220;Is the slave section. Its large enough to hold several million slaves, though not comfortably.&#8221; He says, then his hand tracks to the left, not quite reaching the tunnels where the sounds of more people are. &#8220;Those are the armory tunnels. We need both sections. The plan is, we free the slaves, and make sure the armory is open. If there are enough slaves down here&#8230; they&#8217;ll overrun the handlers. That will be the end of our involvement. The Boardroom has agreed to handle the rest for this particular Ring.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo boggles at the mention of the amount of slaves kept here, &#8220;Holy hell, man. Those handlers are in for a very bad day.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not saying they will have that many.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> clarifies. &#8220;Just that they&#8217;ve got space. Each ring has enough space to hold the entire organization&#8217;s slave population in it.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This the part where we split up? Cause if so, m&#8217;likely better suited to ensurin&#8217; the armory wide open than handlin&#8217; scared people.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy<\/span> pitches to Axle with a glance, though she waits to see what he deems the best strategy. <\/p>\n<p>Maeve makes a face at Axle, and asks him, &#8220;&#8230;Please tell me that Valentino isn&#8217;t the one handling that? I&#8217;ve made every fucking effort to keep you two apart&#8230;&#8221; She looks a little green in the gills at the thought. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy adds on, as an afterthought and while gesturing to Selene, &#8220;Though she might be able to open some doors too, more quietly.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Suddenly, something white and very fluff swishes around <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Yukino<\/span>, and the moment it happened, she is gone and only a faint trail of starlight shimmers in the air for a moment. Whatever took her, it must have not been quite voluntarily. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy blinks once, and poof. Yukino is gone. &#8220;.. Uh..&#8221; She is sufficiently spooked. <\/p>\n<p>Turning sharply, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> stares at the fading starlight. &#8220;Well&#8230;&#8221; Turning back, he sighs. &#8220;Yes. We split. I&#8217;ll leave you to pick where your best suited. I&#8217;ll take the slaves myself.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll go where I&#8217;m needed, just point.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> offers as he shifts between the two paths. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;.. Want to try some fireworks on the door?&#8221; queries <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span>, also looking quite enthused at the idea of door-busting. &#8220;.. Thermite, or perhaps some proper shaped charges, are due to make some noise, heat, and light&#8230; but likely a bit less than barreling it open with physical force, yes.&#8221;  <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You reckon there&#8217;s guards in the armoury?&#8221; does get asked of Axle. Worryingly, perhaps, the lass lacks the perception to even notice someone vanish for the time being. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Y&#8217;all saw that right? I ain&#8217; hallucinatin&#8217; again am I..&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy<\/span> murmurs while staring at the space Yukino very recently occupied a moment longer, but then it&#8217;s time to snap back to focus. &#8220;Right, right uh.. I can cover Selene here, an&#8217; once we got the armory open I&#8217;ll clear us a path if we get swarmed.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There are.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> affirms. &#8220;Guards and maybe even a few handlers. We&#8217;ll have to be quick. Don&#8217;t want the army to come down on us.&#8221; He gestures to a group of dead silent tunnels off to the right. &#8220;You hear something coming from that way&#8230; fucking, run.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Mercy follows Axle&#8217;s indication to the tunnels in question, brow furrowed. &#8220;.. Noted.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo nods to Mercy while suggesting, &#8220;Any way to rig the rest of the tunnel doors shut for the time being? Give us a bit of wiggle room?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s pretty much enough to get <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> to move with a hop, skip, and a bounce. Let&#8217;s not clap enthusiastically just yet, not before they&#8217;ve even found the door and sized up what kind of stuff they&#8217;re dealing with. &#8220;No time to waste, then.&#8221; she urges with a nod, choosing not to inquire further about &#8216;that one tunnel&#8217;, and instead begins to move towards where the paths split off for the armoury crew. &#8220;Chances are we&#8217;ll need both my and Mercy&#8217;s magic to break through, unless I rig this thing to actually.. you know.. But that would probably risk us all being caved-in, not to mention..&#8221;  <\/p>\n<p>No need to mention who else would all likely end up in a doomed scenario. It&#8217;s likely we can all still hear them in the background. But she casts a gesture, vaguely, in the directon of where they&#8217;ve just passed and heard the echoes of struggle. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;With you, always,&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Maeve<\/span> says up to Axle, staying a half step ahead of him. She notes the sounds of struggle, of conflict, of&#8230; well, lots more, and when she looks up at him, there&#8217;s a raised brow, then her attention is back ahead of them. Her eyes are better than his, anyway. <\/p>\n<p>As confident as <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy<\/span> is in many areas, probably too many, she seems relieved when Regaldo and his gun agree to come along and she hops into step behind Selene with a quick salute to Maeve and Axle. &#8220;If you need help, scream real loud.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Will do.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> says grimly, striding after Maeve. &#8220;Be careful, you three.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You guys, too.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> echoes back to Axle as he braces for the shenanigans to come. <\/p>\n<p>The first half of setting up the explosives is done carefully, cautiously, methodically. But the closer that she gets to finishing the set-up, the more a bit of dormant excitement starts to taint that methodical efficiency. <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> is practically fighting the urge to whistle away into these cavernous tunnels, but you bet&#8217;cha there&#8217;s a moment where those around her can catch her humming a bit of Billy Joel, something about starting fires. With the last tactical applications of thermite prepared, the girl starts to back off from her project. First just by a few steps, but something wise tells her to take a few more precautious steps back, and gesture for the others to make sure they maintain a safe distance. &#8220;.. C&#8217;mon Dade. Show us what my Tech-Priest cooked up.&#8221; the little Kingpin goes, magnesium ribbon ready to be lit&#8230; <\/p>\n<p>Mercy keeps on Selene&#8217;s heels, at least up until she point the woman sets to work. Then she takes a few cautious steps back, better safe than sorry. &#8220;You gonna be able to get it..?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;.. If this don&#8217;t do it, we&#8217;ll need something damn near thermonuclear&#8230;&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> &#8216;reassures&#8217;, looking over the prepared project one last time. She checks up on Mercy, then Regaldo, and asks the latter, &#8220;.. You ready, too?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Ready as I&#8217;ll ever be.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> assures Selene as he takes cover, &#8220;Punch a hole in that door and or wall. Just not the floor, we need that.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>A considering look is given to her crossbow, but <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy<\/span> ultimately hooks it to her back again, ready to use more drastic and bodily shielding methods if there&#8217;s a bad time waiting for them on the other side of the door. Or inbound from those ominous tunnels Axle had pointed out. &#8220;Yes ma&#8217;am.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Maeve leads, though her shuffling limp of a gait is slower than the long-legged stride that Axle has, but, still, she&#8217;s happy to be the one shot up first, athame in hand, and raised, as though ready to start warding, should she need. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s going to get a little hot&#8230; We&#8217;ll melt straight through it, so light up anyone trying to crawl outta that sauna..&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> remarks, unable to fight off a little sadistic smirk. Then, it&#8217;s time to light that magnesium ribbon, let chemistry work its &#8216;magic&#8217;.. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo starts humming &#8216;Secret Tunnel&#8217; to himself as he levels his rifle at the soon-to-not-be door. <\/p>\n<p>The group splits, two heading for the slave section, and three for the armory.  <br \/>\nDown the armory tunnel is a fairly long walk, but, eventually, the trio come across a heavy metal door. Came, would perhaps be the better word for it. No sooner has it been encounter, than Selene has her explosives. The resulting boom and roar of flames blasts through the tunnel, heat washing over the group as the door is, for lack of a better term, obliterated. The resulting sound comes next, a boom that can be felt in the teeth. But the walls give no sign of the sound having effected them. The armory, however, is a different story. From deeper in, there is a shout of alarm. Its source is quickly revealed to the group, as they emerge into another massive vault. This one is flanked by many smaller vaults, each filled with enough weapons, armor, explosives, ammunition, and medical equipment to comfortably supply a small army for months. In the vaults, all rushing around in their haste to ready themselves, are a total of roughly seventy or so slave-soldiers, commanded by four handlers. The handlers are dressed finely, suits for the three men and an elegant ball gown for the woman, all armed with whips that are in the process of urging the soldiers into something resembling a defensive formation. By the state of them, they did not expect such an abrupt entry.  <\/p>\n<p>\nThe way down the slave tunnel is lit with nearly blinding lights, the ground worn by countless feet over countless years. From further in comes the rank smells of humanity, sour and unpleasant all the way down. The tunnel finally ends, opening into what can only be described as a pit. Set over the top is a grate, large enough to cover the hole, which itself is so wide, the other side is lost to distance. Down below, slaves lie, sit, stand, or otherwise mill about. Some are chained, some with collars snapped around their throats. A set of steps descends the sides into the pit, but the grate blocks those from being any use to the slaves within. There are hundreds, no, thousands. Hundreds of thousands, just within sight. Sections of the grate are marked, latches holding them in place, however, hinges have been set to allow them to lift aside, freeing the slaves within when the handlers wish. The smell has only intensified this close to the pit, with some of the slaves crumpled to the side baring open wounds. A couple, stripped naked, lie on their stomachs. Their backs are a horror of shredded flesh and bloodied bone, infection already having taken root in the filth they live in. A few notice the pair approaching, staring with dull, disinterested eyes from their captivity in the pit. It seems that, if there was once hope in these men and women, there is no longer. <\/p>\n<p>Maeve does not pause, does not falter, but those with some infernal blood might pick up on how she pauses, a look of horror flashing across her face. She does not look at Axle, because she would break. But, there is a faint glow that starts frrom her, and soothing energies pour out, into the room. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re a blast, dear.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> remarks to Selene with a chuff as he tries to take a pot shot towards one of the handlers down the tunnel. &#8220;Someone order fish in a Gods damned barrel?&#8221; he barks with a laugh. <\/p>\n<p>As the flame surges forth, the temperature rockets up, and the blaze produces what is practically a blinding experience, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> can only stand there with wide-eyed awe and excitement &#8211; wide grin and a-bouncin&#8217; with energy. Once the fire and smoke clears, and through it the opposing forces are seen, it is clear they have more to work through. Military formations are very cool and effective. But they may not always be optimized for fighting off fire. Not only has the lass molten through steel with the absolute blaze that thermite creates, she&#8217;s already unpacked a few other fun surprised to lob straight into the opening, towards any gathered bodies of resistance. This is why you always bring along a zippo, hers having been tucked away somewhere around the neckline area of her top. She sets a first firebomb alight, and looks aside at Regaldo. &#8220;Light &#8217;em up!&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Rather than go straight into said fish barrel, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy<\/span> is happy to let Regaldo pick off a few first. &#8220;Sic &#8217;em!&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>It is remarkably similar to shooting fish in a barrel. Regaldo can hardly miss, and yet, with the first shot, there is the splatter of brains and skull chips, before two slave-soldiers, one behind the other, crumple to the ground. Next comes the first of Selene&#8217;s fire bombs, the air lighting with a streak before, in a roar of flames, a cluster of soldiers become little more than a blazing inferno. Screams fill the air, along with the smell of burning flesh. Then, the soldiers are filtering forward, a wave of bullets eating their way closer to the group as the soldiers behind the front line open fire. Shields form together in a locked wall as the front approaches. The handlers, having seen the destruction already caused, retreat, shouting orders to the soldiers of &#8220;Forward!&#8221; and &#8220;Kill! Kill!&#8221;  <\/p>\n<p>In the slave pits, a few of the injured stir, Maeve&#8217;s aura of soothing energy alleviating the pain from some of their wounds, though some are already too far gone. A few corpses have even been left, a testament to the care of the handlers for their enslaved. <\/p>\n<p>Grinding his teeth, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> steps forward, kneeling to the grate. &#8220;Help me with these.&#8221; He tells Maeve, voice a bit sharper than he likely intended it to be. If one were to look closely, it could be seen that his hands are trembling so hard he can barely get a hold on the first latch. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Go nuts, ladies. I&#8217;ll provide support!&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> encourages as he swaps to a fresh mag and racks the bolt. Now he times his shot to not his the other two engaging those within the armory while trying to aim low to get beneath those shields. The humming of &#8216;Secret Tunnel&#8217; intensifies. <\/p>\n<p>Maeve moves without hesitation, less of her limp evident, as she starts undoing the latches, doing for him what he can&#8217;t. &#8220;Behind me, love,&#8221; she speaks, tone firm, not her trauma they&#8217;re unearthing this time. &#8220;Told you I&#8217;d be with you in hell, every time, baby. We&#8217;ve got this.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>In the heat of battle, as the bullets fly, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy<\/span> begins to.. untie her laces. &#8220;Shit, hang on, one of my dang boots kinda stuck-&#8221; Then off come said boots, and she starts shedding the rest of her clothes too while barking to Selene and Regaldo. &#8220;Aight m&#8217;gonna try an&#8217; bust down their defenses but ain&#8217; start shootin&#8217; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;.. till I move outta the way some, or yer gonna hit me fer sure.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy<\/span> finishes her sentence. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy jerks a thumb to Regaldo and speed-strips everything off, save a rather nondescript ring that appears made of bone on her left middle finger. <\/p>\n<p>To help those handlers along in their cowering, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> locks onto a single one of them, and makes them emotionally feel very, very afraid. Just to stir their ranks into further chaos. &#8220;Let&#8217;s do this.. No mercy, unless it&#8217;s our Mercy!&#8221; she hollers as their cheerleading yell slash warcry, unholstering her handgun and cocking it in the most aggressive fashion possible. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy pauses to take a breath, then slips through the entryway to get inside the room a little while she can still fit. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Ah, will do.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> remarks shifting back from his position. He blinks at the large wolf only to laugh, &#8220;Well, that&#8217;s a surprise. I&#8217;ll try to aim around.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>No more pauses and no grace, just a solid 2240lb wall of meat as <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy(wolf)<\/span> charges forward and slams itself into the shieldbearers face-first. <\/p>\n<p>Laughter&#8217;s not exactly the response of <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span>, who despite having witnessed the morphing before can&#8217;t help but still stand there, a nudge away from making a damn big gulp. Thankfully, there&#8217;s reassurance in knowing that it&#8217;s not them that are locked in there with her. It&#8217;s &#8216;them&#8217; that are locked in there with&#8230; that. Time to line up that pistol, and wait for the first soldier&#8217;s body to align with her iron sights. <\/p>\n<p>Whistling softly, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> goes prone to aim between the legs of the hallway filling wolf. &#8220;No other way to say this. Keep the legs spread and we&#8217;ll try and shoot past you.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>As the other two make way for the now present wolf, the soldiers seem to think, for a moment, that they are winning.  <\/p>\n<p>That quickly ends.  <br \/>\nThe charge sends four shieldbearers flying through the air, and the chaos doesn&#8217;t stop there. Soldiers, once just trying to catch the group in their fire, now turn frantically to attempt to gun down the monster in their midst. Selene&#8217;s power falling over one of the handlers is just the addition to the havoc now unfolding in the armory. The added fear likely wasn&#8217;t even necessary, as the handlers are already devolving into flight, sprinting as fast as they can for the vaults, leaving their soldiers to fend off the terror that has unleashed itself in their midst. The occasional glimpse of feet, knees, and as Mercy(wolf) charges, heads, coming and going from Selene and Regaldo&#8217;s view. While they could shoot, it seems that, whatever the soldiers were prepared for, it was not the wolf.  <\/p>\n<p>As the latches begin to come undone on the grate, the apathy in the slaves begins to shift. One rushes up the steps, hands pressing to the metal. &#8220;Please! Please, just let me go, I swear, I, won&#8217;t tell anyone! Please!&#8221; Tears streak the haggard young woman&#8217;s cheeks, her nails already ragged and torn, blood covering her fingertips. She does, however, look ever so slightly better than the others in the pit. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> continues to work at the latch, his frustration clearly growing until, with a growl, he simply jerks at the metal, attempting to break it loose with raw strength and anger. <\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s like the historical wars of Alexander&#8217;s era all over again. Instead, this time it aren&#8217;t elephants that barge down the formations of shield, but something with both more mass and far, -far- more savage, destructive capabilities. Such a moment simply commands mute awe, with the air silent of gunshots &#8212; at least none that come from her gun &#8212; as their vanguard comes crashing into the ill-prepared ranks. Bodies fly, blood sprays, vicera flies, and all that <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> can think to say is, &#8220;.. Damn.&#8221;  <\/p>\n<p>A few quick blinks follow, but then she&#8217;s back in the game zone. She shifts her aim over onto one of the unlucky souls who&#8217;s yet to see their life-thread severed amidst their fallen comrades. Valhalla might come to him a bit more mercifully, at the tip of a bullet. That is if there&#8217;s even going to be anything standing. For the time being, she looks content to stand there on overwatch, like the good ole&#8217; games of XCOM she&#8217;s all too familiar to. <\/p>\n<p>Heeding Regaldo&#8217;s request, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy(wolf)<\/span> tries to keep its limbs splayed enough for more open fire as it stands in place and probably still manages to do significant damage. Some soldiers go flying, and it tries to snap them right out of the air between its teeth to callously fling them another direction and at more of their allies like living projectiles. No mercy, indeed. She&#8217;s not quite here at the moment. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You two got this?&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> wonders of Selene and Mercy(wolf) as he pushes to his feet with his gaze tracking to the other door, &#8220;I want to go ensure that one doesn&#8217;t open. Don&#8217;t need any surprises with the pup in the doorway.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re here to help,&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Maeve<\/span> insists, swallowing hard, before Axle rips the whole fucking grate off. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Do so.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> confirms, offering a nod at Regaldo. &#8220;.. Good idea. Don&#8217;t do anything reckless on your own, yeah?&#8221; she does caution, but her attention already swivels back onto the carnage in the armoury. Someone seemed to still be moving. Somewhat. Let&#8217;s send them a one-way ticket to a quick end, lest they find some way to poke a minor hole into the tarrasque in the room with him. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy(wolf) seems to be enjoying itself and handling things well enough, if with a little too much excitement maybe. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo nods as he turns to sprint off towards the other door and find some way to lock it down from this side, &#8220;No promises!&#8221; he barks with a laugh. <\/p>\n<p>Soldiers fall like wheat before a scythe, Mercy(wolf) tearing through them, and hurling them through each other, with terrible force. Any lucky enough to not be torn and crushed, Selene or Regaldo are easily able to eliminate. There are barely any bullets from the enemy soldiers now, only the sounds of screaming and crunching bone. It is only a short time more before the room is filled with nothing but the three living and, presumably, the hiding handlers. The floor is littered with bodies, limbs, and awash in blood. The dead have piled up along the walls, thrown by Mercy(wolf)&#8217;s savagery to break against the unyielding stone.  <\/p>\n<p>\nIn the pit, the slaves have begun to stir, and then&#8230;  <br \/>\n<span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> tears the latch free, the force ripping a chunk of the grate large enough to fit a head through. The metal comes away in his hand, and is tossed aside with an annoyed huff. When the slaves notice this, they begin standing, clambering to be the first up to the grate, some trampling over those either not quick enough or unable to clear the way. Weak screams rise from the surging mass of bodies as they press against the grate. Several collared slaves are the first at the grate, eyes ablaze with something almost feral. If one would look a bit closer at their auras, it would be evident that, whatever these slaves are, it is a wonder they are still in captivity, the swirling, dark mists of Irredeemable wrapping their forms. And yet, those collars, fashioned of various materials, quell that power into something meek in this pit. With the hope of escape, something has lit within them again, however.  <\/p>\n<p>As Regaldo runs, the sounds from the other tunnels become clearer. And one rather alarming sound can be heard. Stirring comes from that opposite tunnel, a mass of bodies shifting, just distinct enough due to the sheer volume of movement. They do not approach yet&#8230; but they are gathering. It may not be long now. <\/p>\n<p>As large as <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy(wolf)<\/span> is, it still tries to pivot around in the room looking for any soldiers still standing, or even just twitching somewhere, bloody saliva dripping from its panting maw all the while. Then it goes still, ears up, catching a sound it knows it needed to remember to be wary of, and vocalizes an unpleasant, bassy chuff at Selene to get her attention. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re almost out of time, pendejo!&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> calls out as he looks about for some way to secure the door or at least make it harder to open, &#8220;Bomb lady, got something to seal this with?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be fuckasses, we&#8217;re getting you all out,&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Maeve<\/span> calls into the pit, doing everything in her power to get it open as wide as she can, to ensure as many of them can get out as possible. Her boyfriend may be the Director of the Temple, but her? She just wants the pain here to end for as many of them as possible, to get them free. <\/p>\n<p>Surely, eventually there comes a moment where silence falls upon the armoury, and where <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> can step in without a direct risk of being mistaken for an enemy. There&#8217;s one thing on her mind while she&#8217;s here, and that&#8217;s to quickly find one of the handlers. Those in the fancier clothes. Nothing wrong with a bit of battlefield looting, right &#8211; That, also, has been part of historical warfare even before Alexandrian times. Can&#8217;t hurt to retrieve a few phones, or scour through wallets and whatnots for identities. Impressive as the armoury is, it isn&#8217;t weapons she&#8217;s that interested in taking along. Those get only mild consideration as she steps between the corpses. Turns out those handlers have chosen, wisely, not to stand right in the melee. They&#8217;re dressed rather ostentatiously, after all, so they&#8217;d be quite obvious. &#8220;.. Where&#8217;s those suits gone off to?&#8221; she asks, scanning the room before coming to rest her gaze on the bloodied werewolf&#8217;s visage.  <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You might want to stand up, arms outstretched, before she gets hungry again.. It&#8217;ll usually take twenty seconds before the tummy starts to growl&#8230;&#8221; she calls out into the armoury, letting those words echo through the rooms, perhaps to see if someone might consider this request. Turning, she looks at Regaldo and purses her lips with thoughts. &#8220;Sealing..? Not.. so much.. Unless you want me to try collapse it..&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>As Selene searches, there is a brief shuffling, before two of the handlers emerge, arms outstretched, just as Selene had instructed. &#8220;Please! We don&#8217;t want trouble!&#8221; One cries, tears streaming from his eyes, though whether genuine or faked, who can tell. His suit, once pristine and in perfect form, is now splattered with blood and rumpled from his flight. Not too long afterward, the other two handlers also step forward, emerging from the vaults with similar pleas for mercy. One goes so far as to fall to his knees before Mercy(wolf), head touching the ground.  <\/p>\n<p>As the grate is unlatched, it begins to creak, until, with a sudden bang, one section flies up after Maeve undoes a latch, a flood of slaves pouring free. It is headed by five collared slaves. They turn back, several moving to help with the latches. One of the slaves with a collar pauses by Maeve, lowering their head to her. &#8220;Thank you. You have done us all a great service this day. Have you a way of escaping?&#8221; The person, once possibly well dressed, is now clad in only rags of what might&#8217;ve been a suit.  <\/p>\n<p>\nThe movement from the opposite tunnel has grown louder, a few footsteps audible as the force behind the door begins to move.  <br \/>\nTime is almost up. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Dropping it on their heads might not be a bad idea.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> reasons to Selene with his gaze drifting towards the slave pit where Axle and Maeve are, &#8220;Better than having to dance with the lot of em. Do it, bomb lady!&#8221; he calls out while dropping back should any make it to the door. <\/p>\n<p>Wide eyes alight with intention lower to the handlers and <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy(wolf)&#8217;s<\/span> lips curl back to better expose its massive fangs, but it holds back for now sans the go-ahead from Selene or Regaldo, particularly the former given this isn&#8217;t their first field trip together. <\/p>\n<p>Maeve glances to Axle with the question, letting him answer, as she provides her strength, her aid, to any and all that she can, not leaving his side, keeping him in her peripheral. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The armory.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> says, rising after undoing one more latch in much the same way he&#8217;d done the last. &#8220;Go to the armory. Clear the place. The Boardroom&#8230; they&#8217;ll help you with the rest.&#8221; He pushes his way to Maeve, grabbing her hand. &#8220;Lets go. We need to get back to the others. Make sure they&#8217;re alright.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Eyes flick between the three pleading souls. Sure, they might be wanting mercy a lot. But there&#8217;s also plenty whose pleas she must&#8217;ve felt wanting them to suffer in ways worse than enacted upon the slaves here. A glance to Mercy(wolf). &#8220;What do you think. One in the kneecap, so they won&#8217;t run..&#8221; she begins to muse, half-assedly shifting her gun-holding hand over to almost align its barrel with one of those handler&#8217;s legs, &#8220;.. leave them here for the others to finish while they arm themselves? Or wanna drag one along with us, for Axle&#8217;s folk to.. ask questions to? Let&#8217;s see what fate says..&#8221; Then, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> just pulls in the trigger, and sees if fate dictates that bullet is going to hit a kneecap, or sink into the floor. As that gunshot rings, she turns to join Regaldo, time a-ticking. &#8220;.. I&#8217;ll set up something quick. Just.. collapse what I can!&#8221; is promised as the lass hurries over <\/p>\n<p>Maeve doesn&#8217;t do all that cute, fingers laced hand holding bullshit, not right now. Right now, she takes his hand in an iron grip, because like fuck can she sprint for long stretches, but they need to regroup and get the fuck out, NOW. She&#8217;s gonna be paying for this jogging later. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Do what you gotta do.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> tells Selene as he levels his rifle at the door, &#8220;I&#8217;ll cover you.&#8221; he assures the young woman. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy(wolf) grunts in the affirmative to Selene&#8217;s second suggestion; let their captives dictate the punishment. With a last wet snarl that rattles around in its throat, the animal starts to back off towards the door. <\/p>\n<p>This time around, there&#8217;s no room for ceremony, excitement, or enjoyment. There are some shaped charges that need to be set by <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span>, and rather hurriedly so. Thankfully, this doesn&#8217;t need a complicated process to be rigged up to blow. That is something remote detonation can do far easier than relying on magnesium ribbons. The intent is to just cause structural damage, cause some delay, before the little lass will be booking it to join the others. To regroup with the other team of operatives. The second some space is created, the detonator&#8217;s set off. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy(wolf) just barely fits its fat ass through the door but makes it out and manages to turn around. As an afterthought it dips its head and neck down low towards her to offer a lift once she&#8217;s done setting up her toys. It does not scream &#8216;RIDE ON ME!&#8217; like Aslan from Narnia, but the offer is obvious. <\/p>\n<p>As soon as the bombs are set, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> books it as fast as his little human legs will carry him. <\/p>\n<p>A scream sounds from behind, accompanied by a spray of red as the trio withdraws into the nexus. Selene has just enough time to set her detonator and press it, before a flood of slaves comes rushing from the tunnel leading to the pit. Several pause, caught up in the sudden blast as they stare on with Selene, Regaldo and Mercy(wolf) at the once tunnel, now little more than a wall of rubble. Then, without further ado, they are moving on, into the armory. Dragged along in the flood, Maeve and <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> eventually emerge from the tunnel, clinging to one another amidst the chaotic press of bodies. The sounds of revelry have ceased from the other tunnels, replaced quickly by sounds of alarm, sounds which soon turn to terror as slaves come pouring back out of the armory, armed to the teeth. And all clearly very angry. Those that went in with colllars, re-emerge lacking such adornments. These now freed slaves are the ones to lead the charge as a deafening warcry, issued from over a thousand throats, causes the vaulted chamber to be filled with noise. <\/p>\n<p>With the looming threat of whatever lurks in those tunnels, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> looks very happy to accept any help moving her little self down the halls, and to the group. She nods at Mercy(wolf), and climbs on there like she&#8217;s just met her personal Falkor. <\/p>\n<p>Maeve thinks Selene has the right idea and yells up to Axle, &#8220;Pick me up?&#8221; She&#8217;s definitely the slowest in the group, by far, and he can certainly run faster carrying her tiny ass than dragging her. <\/p>\n<p>Poor Regaldo is left to hoof it and avoid getting trampled because he hasn&#8217;t earned a ticket to this ride yet, but <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy(wolf)<\/span> at least takes some care not to barrel him over as it carefully sprints down the tunnel with Selene in tow. Reach the stars, fly a fantasy. Dream a dream, and what you see will be. <\/p>\n<p>Scooping Maeve up at the shout, <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> doesn&#8217;t quite have time for comfort, simply tossing her over a large shoulder. &#8220;Go! Go go go!&#8221; He yells, already sprinting for the exit. &#8220;We&#8217;re leaving, last one out is probably dead!&#8221; And with that, he continues chasing after Mercy(wolf) and Selene. Also leaving Regaldo to fend for himself. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo runs as fast as a short fat man can towards the exit while dodging angry former slaves. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think we won&#8217;t have to worry about how we&#8217;ll be breaking that fence this time around!&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> declares confidentely, tossed about as she does her best to maintain balance on the lumbering war-beast AND keep her head low enough no oddly-placed pipes might know the sense out of her. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I am going to get the biggest &#8216;I told you so&#8217; from the doc when we get back.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> grouses as they ascend with a slight limp growing in his gait, &#8220;Didn&#8217;t die, though, so he can&#8217;t bitch at me about that.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Like a recking ball?&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Maeve<\/span> asks, kicking Axle just once in the chest for how he&#8217;s carrying her. Not his fault, but neither are her reflexes her fault. &#8220;Run, little man, run fast!&#8221; she calls, giggling, almost giddy from the adrenaline dump. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;What about a toad a-sew?&#8221; asks <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span>, Canadian roots having made her mishear something over the ruckus and cacophony. <\/p>\n<p>Mercy(wolf) is not a comfortable mount by any means but it at least tries not to careen or bob around so hard that Selene might go flying, especially with the walls and ceiling much closer. <\/p>\n<p>As the group flees from the mass of angry slaves, they emerge into a different sort of chaos. The fence has been torn down, and now, where a once empty street once stretched, a veritable army of vehicles has blockaded the way. However, the mirror they used to arrived has been moved, now set up against a building. A large number of suited agents mill about the area, watching the warehouse. Upon spotting the group exiting, they clear a path, one standing beside the mirror. &#8220;Well done.&#8221; The woman says, offering the group a, if not kind, then at least professional smile. &#8220;You&#8217;ve all done a great service for this country tonight. I&#8217;m sure your all a bit tired from this.&#8221; She steps aside, joining the throng and fully clearing the way to the mirror. <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> gives a brief nod as he slows, lowering Maeve from his shoulder. &#8220;Lets go.&#8221; He says, the exhaustion seeming to hit him all at once, shoulders slumping as he steps to the mirror, waiting for the others to gather around him. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I am going to find a hot tub to drown myself in.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Regaldo<\/span> grouses as he stows his gear and ambles towards the mirror. <\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s many fantastical tales about turtles beating hares and such, but <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> still safely bets all her money on the humongous wolf making it to the finish race first. They&#8217;re met by the waiting bodies of agent perhaps a little startled by the sight of a blood-stained wolf going full-zoom with a little racer on her back. But it&#8217;s a sight they&#8217;ll have to get used to as she flicks them a lazy two-finger salute. Here, she also dismounts, and comes down with a sigh emptying her lungs promptly. Adrenaline will still need some time to wear off, even from a supernatural&#8217;s system. &#8220;.. Jacuzzi. And booze. That&#8217;s how you get two birds stoned at once.&#8221; <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> declares, in turn, as her agenda for the night. <\/p>\n<p>Once Selene has dismounted <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Mercy(wolf)<\/span> starts to shift back, which is a rather prolonged but equally as unpleasant process as before. <\/p>\n<p>Regaldo gives a nod in Selene&#8217;s direction, &#8220;Great minds and whatnot.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Maeve looks around at the faces, something like dread settled on hers as she looks around the Boardroom people, hand firmly in Axle&#8217;s once he lowers her. He can tell from how shes leaning on him&#8230; she&#8217;s going to be needing some drugs, and to ly out for a while. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Axle<\/span> smiles, turning to check for the rest. It seems that, something, has lifted his mood at least, bringing a bit of energy back to his eyes. &#8220;Lets go then.&#8221; He says after counting those present. <\/p>\n<p>We all know that feeling when you see someone yawn, and that in turn makes you yawn. Something similar happens when Mercy does that whole transforming thing, with <span style=\"color:#ffffff\">Selene<\/span> subconsciously rolling a few joints, the non-smokeable kind for once, that go crack and pop. In far, far, far less bone-churning a fashion. &#8220;.. That said, though&#8230;&#8221; she remarks, quietly, as she looks around. &#8220;Not waiting to get, like, Men In Black.. uhh.. neuralyzed.. by &#8217;em? Let&#8217;s.. get going..&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Mercy huffs out a heavy exhalation of breath, hands running back through her hair once all&#8217;s said and done and she&#8217;s clothed again on top of it. &#8220;Man..&#8221; Is all she says, understandably a little worn out. <br \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Date: 2026-05-09 19:59 (Mercy&#8217;s Saturday evening odd encounter(Axle):Axle) [Sat May 9 2026] On a dingy Boston street outside a warehouse\/spanThis part of town is clearly not the wealthiest. People in ragged, stained clothes pass by in small groups, rarely, if ever, going alone. A massive&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[134],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-encounterlog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29753"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29753\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havenrpg.net\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}