Katheeri

[Sylono]

Her shields held (though barely), but there was plenty enough force that bleed through to stagger the clone. Though perhaps whatever cosmic being that might exist had taken a shine to Shepherd, or perhaps simply wished to prolong her life for the maximum comedic effect. Whatever the reason, the vixen was certainly surprised to see the beast's aggression come to a complete halt, in fact Shepherd had to fight her instinct to take advantage of the sudden passiveness.

Not wanting the whole ordeal to start again, the vixen re-holstered her blaster, and rubbed her right eye. Vision was coming back fast, so there was no reason worry about that, though the thought of having to do a bit of maintenance on her PDS wasn't going to be fun.

"'As I live and breathe', huh?" Shepherd recited Renard's words thoughtfully, wasn't a bad catchphrase of sorts, it certainly made her a bit nostalgic for her younger days of reading whatever comic books she could get her grubby little paws on. Once again smiling in spite of herself, Shepherd pushed that pleasant nostalgia aside as best she could and scanned Zefran for any injuries.

He didn't seem to be in any pain, satisfied with that conclusion, the blue furred fox strolled over to where she dropped her multi-tool, and retrieved it, luckily enough it was still in working condition.

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

Korben was shoved onto his back by the force of the grenade blast. He got up to his feet quickly, but was hesitant to engage them in combat again. He holstered his pistol. Elizabeth, too, managed to get back on the ridge, this time her weapon holstered as well.

"Okay," started Elizabeth, still panting, "let's not fight, yeah?"

"There's more," said Korben, somewhat excited. "Liz, there's more!" He began laughing, and took off his cap to wipe his forehead.

~

Ilya observing the Katheeri move toward the group in a much more peaceful manner, chose to approach them on foot, despite the large distance he had to cover. Ilya held his gold medallion hanging around his neck, and began praying in Ruthenian, causing the red gem in the center of the medallion to glow. It generated a weak deflector shield, capable of absorbing only light small arms fire.

Ilya was dressed in a dark red biker jacket with two white stripes going down from the collar along the forearms. Underneath his jacket was a white short sleeved tee. His pants were thick, lined jeans, albeit scraped due to his accident. His jacket was in a similar condition. His black sneakers stepped over a rail and continued forth.

~

Bohdan eyed each patron of the dank, smoke-choked bar, the stench of nicotine fighting for control of the inhabitants' nostrils with the smell of strong alcohol. His heavy footfalls followed Antoine's to a back room. He cracked his fists as he approached the door.

[Kurt]

Simo was horrified by what he saw. 'I haven't seen magic casting like that since Fortuna!' still he kept the cross hairs centered on the creature as it walked twords the group. Evidently he was still unnoticed 

[Zaphyr Stone]

The bodyguard looked over at Simo and stood back to his feet. The mask of his helmet peeled back to reveal a strong masculine face with bright white fur and sharp yellow eyes.

"I'd put that down if I were you." He growled, staring the canine down.

Now that he wasn't moving, Zefran was able to get a better look at him. He was older but still young. He looked to be closer to Antoine's age. Like him, he had antler-like horns as well, but his were larger with more pronounced prongs.

"Hush, Sitka." The girl shushed with an amused smirk. She returned her attention to Zefran.

"You don't know what you are?" She seemed troubled, "It would take too long to explain right now. My name is Aura, and my bodyguard is Sitka."

"Um...hey." Zefran was still in shock, "I-I'm Zefran. Should we...be having this conversation right now? I feel like there's a couple other things to address first?"

"He's right, Aura, we must go." Sitka urged, "We've found him. Now we need to leave before more arrive."

----

Antoine waited a moment before addressing his old colleague. "Sal." He began, examining the dirt under his nails, "I know it's been a while, so I'm not expecting much. But I'm looking for some information on a job you were involved in about seven years ago."

"Seven years?" Sal laughed, "Christ, this is unusual for you. I didn't think you were the nostalgic type, Annie."

"Call me a sap." Antoine grinned, "This job should stand out to you. You had some very...unique...cargo."

Sal's demeanor changed. The humor in his eyes died. "Why do you have to bring up these things, Annie? I lost good people, friends. And where the fuck were you when that happened, huh?"

"That's not what I'm here to talk about, Sal." Antoine was firm, "I just want to know what happened to the spoils from that job?"

"Spoils!? I saw things I still can't explain, things that still have my brain scrambled, and you want to know about that fucking collar!?" Sal roared

"So there was something!" Antoine's eyes gleamed.

"I'm gonna tear you apart!" Sal leapt at the coyote, anger blinding him.

[Kurt]

"Untill I sense all that hostility is gone pretty boy, it's gonna stay up!" he yelled in response to his threat. 'Damn he is one ugly SOB' He kept the rifle aimed at him

[Tiger Carson]

It was at this time the launch sequence for the Sanctuary Tiger had finished, and the ship lifted off into the air, slowly at first.  It had to carefully back out of the hangar to avoid clipping anything.  Once done, the ship headed out to the site of the two beams, where things were going down unknown to the heroes.  The Sanctuary Tiger went to full speed, or as much full speed as it was able to in atmosphere.  Inside the left launch bay...
"Here we go, Copper, get ready to launch." Jeena said as she opened the cockpit for her Arwing, and jumped into the seat, and closed the cockpit.  She was still in her street clothes.
"We should have Tiger and Zera's Arwings ready to launch on autopilot." Copper said as he worked with Tiger's Arwing first.
"Hurry it up, old man, we'll be there in less than four and a half minutes." Jeena replied.
"Allow me to help with that." Hawk's voice was heard next to Copper.
"Hawk?" Copper looked to him, confused. "Thought you weren't getting involved?"
"Crypto hunting? No, fighting enemy ships? Yes." Hawk replied. "Those beams had to come from somewhere."
"Alright." Copper said as he got out of Hawk's way.  Then Hawk worked on Tiger's Arwing.  Kola had also jumped in and worked on prepping Zera's Arwing for autopilot flight.  They both set the ships up to track their owners life signatures.  Copper meanwhile jumped into his Arwing, and soon, Hawk and Kola were in their Arwings.  All six ships were ready to launch. "Just give us the all clear when it's time, Mark."
"Affirmative." Mark replied over the ship's comm system. "Prepare for launch in three minutes."

------

Meanwhile, Tiger and Zera were still running. "You know, I was joking before about a police car stopping in front of us, and telling us to get in." Tiger said, panting, but still running at full speed. "But right now, I'd really like it if someone would give us a ride."
"You and me both brother." Zera replied, "I'm starting to ache everywhere..."

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

Bohdan managed to catch Antoine before he could pounce on Sal. He gripped him by the waist and threw him to a wall. Bohdan then went to the fat feline, and, grabbing him by the shirt collar, shoved him to the wall. He then lifted Sal off of the ground and unsheathed a knife he had hidden in his hoodie. Bohdan pointed it at Sal's face.

"I do not want to hurt you," began Bohdan in a calm and soft voice, "but this 'collar' you speak of... I would like to know of it. It interests me. Coincidentally, it also interests Antoine. You will tell us, or I will hurt you, and you do not want to be hurt, yes?"

~

Elizabeth stood in front of Zefran, while Korben still scanned both new Katheeris.

"Are you taking him somewhere?" she inquired. "Because if you are, we must go with him. We, along with others, are his companions. Where he travels, we follow."

"Excuse me..." Korben started timidly. "But... May I.... Touch you?" Korben directed the question at the female Katheeri. "For science," he said. Korben slowly approached the Katheeri, removing his pistol holster containing his weapon and laying it on the ground.

Ilya, meanwhile, inched close enough as to hear the group speaking. He hid behind an unused oil tanker.

[Sylono]

Casting a look in the direction of the newcomer with his weapon drawn, Shepherd set her multitool back in it's spot on her belt and began taking slow steps to the man's left. Come to think of it, she did hear a shot from a weapon that sounded as though it packed a bit more punch. Curious folk coming to check out the Katheeri arrival was bound to happen eventually, this one was armed but alone and didn't look much like law enforcement.

A glance behind the approaching fellow revealed how the man got here so fast, he brought a red vehicle. Even if someone were bad at math, they'd be able to do the math, the rather hostile individual was out numbered, and likely outgunned.

Shepherd stayed quiet, but didn't make any movements for her gear.

[Zaphyr Stone]

Sal was absolutely petrified, whimpering and shaking as he looked into the dragon's eyes. "No please! You don't know what that thing did to me!"

"You better tell him, Sal." Antoine grinned, panting as he recovered from being thrown. He could already tell he was going to have bruise later, "He doesn't look very stable."

"I don't know what it is, I swear! I kept it for myself and hoped to sell it for a big payout!" Sal mewed like a kitten.

"Keep talkin', I'm buying it so far." Antoine rolled his hand impatiently, "You still have it?"

"Annie, that thing has a weird energy. I started hearing voices, even in my sleep. It ruined my brain."

"Got that, thank you." Antoine rolled his eyes, "Where. Is. It."

"I locked it up in my safe. Put me down, and I'll let you have it! I swear! I want that thing out of here!"

"All right, big guy, put him down." Antoine signaled Bohdan.

----

"He shouldn't be here in the first place." Sitka crossed his arms, "He belongs with his people."

"My people?" Zefran looked on in confusion.

"Sitka." Aura sighed in frustration. She looked up in mild alarm at the approaching beaver, "Uuuuum...."

"How dare you!" Sitka barked angrily, imposing himself between Korben and Aura, "I'm on orders not to harm you, but touch her, and I will not hesitate to break that oath."

[Kurt]

"Calm your non existent Tits big guy!" Simo move slowly up the hill twords the group, rifle still trained on his chest

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

Bohdan let go of Sal's collar, and put his knife away.

"Disembodied voices," Bohdan commented. "Perhaps some form of telepathy not dissimilar to the powers of the Crystallines of Cerinia." Now, the Crystallines were special Cerinians, often nobles, who were specially tuned with the unique crystals found only on their homeworld. These Crystallines could harness the energies locked inside Cerinian crystals to become very powerful psychic foes, such as the former Cerinian Royal Family. Bohdan himself fought against several during the Great Crusade.

~

Korben retracted from the Katheeris. "Very well then" he said, picking up his belt and putting it back on. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Anyway..." she said. "Zefran may be one of you, but none of you have been any significant part of his life. Why start now? I mean, it's almost as if you've abandoned him and suddenly decided to take him back."

Ilya, hiding behind the tanker, snickered quietly on the beaver's dashed hopes.

[Zaphyr Stone]

"Whatever the hell it is, just take it." Sal was shaking as he crawled over to a floor panel, lifted it to reveal a safe door and pulled out a ring of keys from his pocket, "I've kept it all this time trying to decipher what it is so I could sell it to the right person, but this is the last straw. Maybe I can finally get some sleep tonight."

He unlocked the safe with a small brass key and took out a strange leather collar with metallic implants embedded into it. It looked very small, not long enough to wrap around an adult's neck.

Antoine took the collar and regarded it curiously before tucking it away in his pocket. "Thanks, Sal, go get yourself a drink. Come on, guys."

With a wave of his hand for the two to follow, he showed himself out.

----

"Of all the times to park a block away!" Laika panted irritably as she and Max booked it down the street to get back to their patrol car. The police frequencies were all abuzz sending out cars to address the sudden commotion out in the wastes. It wasn't hard to notice.

"Oh yeah, like I saw this coming today!" Max barked back.

"Move! Everyone out of the way!" Laika barked as they streaked past panicking civilians.

She wasn't able to stop or move out of the way in time and crashed into a coyote who seemed to come out of nowhere to her.

----

"As I said before," Sitka straightened, "He shouldn't have been out here in the first place. It's an odd occurrence, but it's one we're correcting."

"What are you talking about? I'm right here, guys!" Zefran exclaimed in frustrated confusion, "Can you not talk like I'm not here?"

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

Bohdan followed Antoine out, being careful not to let his guard down in front of the rough-looking patrons of the bar. However, he was unable to forsee Antoine being bumped into the moment he stepped out into the street.

"Woah!" he exclaimed.

~

Elizabeth heard Zefran's cry for self-determination, so she acquiesced and stepped to Zefran's side.

"Alright," said Elizabeth. "You've got the floor, kid." Korben nodded in agreement. Ilya, meanwhile, listened intently.

[Sylono]

Shepherd paused her pace to having an advantageous angle when she had realized the two armored Katheeri intended to retrieve Zefran. That complicated things, it wasn't the clone's right to get in the way of any decision that he might make, but despite that the Cerinian wasn't okay with them coming down from nowhere putting on a voodoo display and making off with the team's... client.

Thankfully, for right now at least, the Katheeri who had everyone's focus was more confused than accepting. Though Shepherd was prepared to guilt the boy and more if he showed signs even seemed to be considering to join with the... 'retrievers', as she decided to dub them for now.

The man with the sniper seemed focused on the larger 'retriever', so she abandoned her earlier plan of preventing the man from causing a mess and began to approach the others, coming to a soundly stop behind the three. The very least, Shepherd blocked the the view between sniper toting fellow and Zefran, she was only going to risk so much.

[Zaphyr Stone]

Antoine had no time to react, the sudden blow knocking him flat on his back. He looked up into a pair of amber eyes and went pale.

Laika suddenly clicked into furious recognition once she took in Antoine's face.

"Aw shit." They both said in unison.

Before Antoine could react, Laika was already slapping cuffs on him.

"You really are an idiot, coming back here, Antoine. I told you what'd happen if I saw your face around here again."

"Laika, as arousing as this is-"

"Shut up!" She growled as Max caught up.

"What's going on here?" He asked, "Laika?"

"We're taking this one in, Max." She explained.

----

Zefran went blank when all eyes were on him. What was he supposed to say? He had so many questions, he didn't know where start.

"Well," he began, "Why am I out here? Why am I not supposed to be?"

"The Katheeri have been absent in Lylat for many years, and we've intended it to be that way." Aura spoke carefully, "We don't know how you got all the way out here. To be honest, I was hoping you could tell us."

[Renardfrost]

Renard stepped forward, Making sure the guard could see his hands, He only stopped when he was at the head of the group.

" We've been out here trying to figure that out, ourselves.. This area is the subject of Zefran's earliest memories at present. we hoped to find a clue out here."

[Kurt]

Simi now stood with the group of strangers, but he still kept his rifle at the ready. "You, beaver." He said in a low voice to him "What is he??"

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

Bohdan was dumbfounded when the police officer that ran into him almost instantly arrested him. He assumed bad blood was spilled between them. He stepped back, his hands raised.

"I have nothing to do with this," he said in a proclamation of his innocence.

~

"Something beyond us," Korben replied to the armed stranger, slowly turning his head to him. "Something... else."

"Korben," began Elizabeth, rubbing her eyes in a frustrated manner, "are you getting a boner from this or something?"

"What--- no!" replied Korben defensively. Elizabeth looked at him dubiously. "No sir!" Korben shook his head. "They're just... in-in... intriguing."

Ilya peeked from behind the tanker. He kept to the status quo, and remained hidden.

[Sylono]

Out of her earlier concern for new predicted arrivals, Shepherd reached for her multitool and switched it's setting to 'anti-personnel sensor', which connected with the body suit under her clothing. It was risky turning her AP sensor on, as it diverted power from her PDS to allow for the directional sensing of distant biological heart beats, under more normal circumstances she wouldn't consider activating it out in the open as she was. For now, it was best to at least have some forewarning.

Despite being what she was, Shepherd didn't consider reaching out with any of her mental abilities, not being to sure she'd get much of a result unless she was directly targeted.

"Miss Elizabeth," The cerinian called back to the husky as she made note of every signature the device picked up/*/. "feel free to contact the Szalba while we still have the time."

//Due to the distance and the heart beats of the people in her immediate vicinity, Shepherd had yet to notice Ilya's signature (though unless he up and starts doing jumping jack or sees a ghost, for the sake of balance, she wont).//

Edited May 24, 2016 by Sylono
Someone sonic 06'd half of his damn post!

[Kurt]

What ever that blue chick did was wreaking havoc on his com link, which began to ring in his ear. This slightly pestered him. Ignoring the newcomer he kept his eyes and rifle focused in the giant hulking..... thing. He was here now, and if any civie died it would look bad on him. And cost him his pay. "So, Katheerie, let me ask you this. Can you bleed?"

[Zaphyr Stone]

"That remains to be seen." She answered Bohdan, watching him and Tom suspiciously.

"Max?" Antoine chortled, "What kind of a name is that?"

"Knock it off!" Laika barked.

"What charges are we bringing him in on?" Max ignored him.

"Theft, trafficking, vehicular manslaughter, take your pick." She hoisted him up, "This is Antoine Chevalier, smuggler extraordinaire, and we've had a warrant for his arrest."

"All right, this is flattering, but I have to be somewhere." Antoine fidgeted with his cuffs, "And I think you do too."

"He's right, Laika, we don't have time." Max urged, "We need to hurry to the wastes."

Laika growled in frustration. "I'm not letting him go." She suddenly grinned at an idea, "Well then, I guess you'll have to come with us. You seem to be heading our way anyways."

----

"Zefran? That can't be your real name." Sitka looked confused, almost offended.

"It's the name I choose to by." Zefran puffed up defensively.

Sitka suddenly rounded on Simo. "I'm losing my patience, dog." He glared at the gunman, "Consider yourself lucky I can't oblige that request for you."

"It doesn't matter." Aura shook her head impatiently, "We don't have time to argue. Zefran, we can't stay long. More people are coming. You need to come back with us."

"Back where?"

"Home." She smiled, "You should be with your own kind again, with a family and friends. It's not safe out here for us."

Edited May 25, 2016 by Zaphyr Stone
I forgot about Simo!

[Renardfrost]

He crossed his arms. They had a point. more people on the way to investigate would not be a good thing for anyone involved.

He sighed. Exactly that could be very bad-

He felt something approaching.. no someone... Someone familiar.

Renard looked fine on the outside, but he was desperately trying to get his thoughts and heartbeat under control

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

"We," Bohdan began, gesturing to both himself and Johnny, "will go with Antoine. We are his... acquaintances." Bohdan smiled confidently, yet slyly.

~

"Home," said Elizabeth, her ears twitching. "Home as in...?"

"Aiolius!" yelled Ilya from his hiding place. He emerged from behind the tanker slowly, and turned to the group. "The Floating Islands. A land of untold riches and knowledge. A land supposedly hand-crafted by God Himself." He approached the congregation of mercenaries and other colorful individuals. Elizabeth and Korben readied themselves for a possible confrontation.

"Who are you?!" barked Elizabeth. Ilya raised his hands slightly as he slowly walked towards them.

"Ilya Kuryakin," said Ilya. "I'm an adventurer." Elizabeth began laughing.

"An adventurer?!" She almost lost control of herself. Even Korben chuckled at the prospect of a modern-day adventurer. "Listen, leather wings, you're in over your head with this. Walk away." Ilya did not heed them. Noticing this, Elizabeth and Korben reached for their blasters. However, Ilya, using a mechanism hidden by his jacket, had drawn out two tubular objects from his sleeves and pointed them at Elizabeth and Korben. They were powerful shotguns, developed as assassination weapons commonly used by the National Intelligence Agency of the Ruthenian Empire, the NAWIR.

"I'm not going unless I at least have information on how to get to Aiolius!" roared Ilya. He cocked the shotguns, a low hum emanating from them.

[Tiger Carson]

Tiger and Zera continued to make their way through the streets towards the area the beams of light had appeared at, now vaulting themselves over the stalled and strewn vehicles that littered the streets.  Zera was the first to notice the commotion of the police near a particular location, with a coyote, a dog, a Sclav involved. "TIGER!" Zera shouted, and pointed. "Those guys look familiar to you?"
"Huh?" Tiger looked, and sure enough, the faces looked the same for the Coyote and Sclav. "Oh boy, there goes some of our leads.  Only two minutes before the Sanctuary Tiger gets here too.  At least we can find one of our leads later.  We still have an emergency to deal with though, let's keep moving." Zera gave a nod as both she and Tiger now vaulted past the group with enough speed to certainly give them a start if they weren't paying attention. "Excuse us, Star Tiger coming through!  Stay out of the way!" Tiger shouted to give the two officers, coyote, Sclav, and dog a bit of a heads-up, with Zera giving a wave as she passed by them with her brother.

 

(Sorry, not much else to post right now, also hope it's not too much.  They had to pass by eventually methinks.)

[Sylono]

Despite having activated her AP sensor, she hadn't had enough time to single out the beat signature that was now approaching them. A dragon, scratch that, 'a dragon adventurer'. Much like her two allies Shepherd was amused, she even let out a giggle, although she tried to cover it up with a cough. "That's kinda cute, actually."

However her mood quickly changed the moment this "Ilya Kuryakin" drew and pointed his weapons at Korben and Elizabeth, Shepherd drew her own weapon as fast as she could and fired three shots, aiming for the newcomer's center mass.